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MEMORIALS 



OF 



OLD BEIDGEHAMPTON 



BY 
JAMES TRUSLOW ADAMS, M. A. 



PRIVATELY PRINTED 

BR1DGEHA.MPTON, LONG ISLAND 

1916 






Copyright by 

James Truslow Adams 

1916 




Printed at the Press of 
The Bridgehampton News 



NOV 23 1916 



©C1.A446600 



PREFACE 

The following book does not pretend to be a complete 
history of Bridgehampton. Its purpose and scope mav 
best be explained by stating how, a comparative 
stranger in the village, I happened to undertake to 
write it. Bridgehampton had not long been my home 
before I naturally became interested in the history oi 
the place, and many questions as to how and when it 
was settled, who the settlers were, what their life was 
like, what their relations were with the outside world, 
who had lived in the old houses still standing, and many 
more such matters soon suggested themselves. In my 
efforts to find answers to these questions, entirely to 
satisfy my own curiosity and at first with no idea of 
publication, I found two things in reference to the ma- 
terial available — first, that it was very abundant, 
and second, that it was so scattered through 
printed volumes (many of them rare and difificult to 
obtain), addresses on various anniversary occasions, 
old newspapers, manuscripts, and unwritten traditions, 
that for any one to obtain a more or less complete 
knowledge of village history involved an amount of 
research, which few would care or have the time to 
undertake. The addresses were simply invaluable as 
material, but naturally involved much repetition of some 
facts while others were hard to find at all, and no con- 
tinuous narrative existed anywhere. 

Not only, however, was the material scattered, but a 
considerable part of it, such as tombstones, newspaper 



II PREFACE 

articles; manuscripts, &c., was of a perishable nature 
and, in fact, much of it has already been lost. Some of 
the oldest stones are gone beyond possibility of de- 
cipherment, while some within the last half century are 
rapidly going, their preservation depending not upon 
their age l)ut upon the material of which they are made. 
In the fire of 1906, the entire file of papers in the "News" 
ofifice was destroyed and there was none in the Library. 
There is now no complete file available before that date 
and l)ut one since, which, housed in a wooden building, 
may any day be destroyed. Newspaper clippings are 
usually, and manuscripts frequently, lost when the 
individuals who have treasured them have died. Of the 
older generation, several of those most interested in 
matters of village history and tradition have passed 
away within a few years. 

To collect the most valuable and interesting items in 
the material still available, to preserve it from possibly 
being lost forever, and, at the same time, to weave it 
into a more or less continuous narrative seemed to be a 
task demanding to be performed by some one before it 
might be altogether too late. It was a work which, 
from its nature, could be done to the best advantage by 
one who was a native of the village and to whom its 
history, and more particularly its family histories, were 
familiar. Had any such been willing to undertake it, I 
would gladly have relinquished the task, but it finally 
seemed to appear that if it were to be done, and done 
soon, I should undertake it myself. 

Of the difficulties which I have encountered from my 
unfamiliarity with place and people, I need not here 
speak. From every one to whom I have applied, I 
have received the most generous and kindly help. I 
cannot name all of those who have contributed informa- 
tion of one sort or another, but I owe especial gratitude 
to Mr. W. S. Pelletreau who kindly gave me permission 
to use anything he had written ; to the family of the late 



PREFACE III 

Judge Henry P. Hedges in connection with his numer- 
ous and valuable writings; to Mr. Addison M. Cook, to 
whom I have constantly gone for information, and 
whose kindness has been as unlimited as my demands; 
to Mr. William D. Halsey for much information and 
many valuable suggestions ; to Mr. A. W. Topping, who 
kindly procured the letters of Mr. Albert Jagger and has 
given me much other help; to Prof. W. O. Crosby, for 
assistance in connection with the chapter on "The 
Land;" to Mr. H. D. Sleight of Sag Harbor, as noted 
in Chapters XH and XHI; and to my father, Wm. New- 
ton Adams, for assistance in preparing the Appendix. I 
also wish to express my appreciation to those in charge 
of the Library and to the proprietors of the "News," 
who have aided me greatly and lightened my labor by 
allowing me to retain at home material which would 
otherwise have had to be copied out. 

No one can realize better than myself, after 
months of work, what such a book might be, and what 
the short comings are of the volume now offered. Li 
a local history, the details are usually of more interest 
than the general narrative, and as they frequently bear 
little or no relevancy to that narrative, such histories 
are almost bound to be more or less formless and dis- 
connected. In this particular case, the difficulty in re- 
gard to form and proportion is emphasized by the fact 
that, of the two main objects in writing it, the one on 
which I have laid most stress was the preservation of 
what was otherwise in danger of being lost. It often 
occurs, therefore, that minor points are treated more at 
length than the more important ones, which may al- 
ready be safely embodied in some printed volume, and 
thus there results a lack of proportion in the emphasis 
accorded to different matters and a somewhat burden- 
some accumulation of detail, with w^hich I would not 
otherwise have obstructed the narrative. This might 
also have been made to flow more smoothly had I re- 



IV PREFACE 

cast and condensed many of the quoted passages, but 
in accordance with the plan of the work, I have thought 
it better to give them all, as far as might be, as they 
were originally written, so that those using this as a 
reference book need be in no doubt as to what extent 
or in what way, the original authorities may have been 
altered in passing through my hands. 

That the book may be useful, however, in preserv- 
ing much valuable and curious information, and at the 
same time by giving a continuous — even if frequently 
interrupted — historical narrative in a single volume is 
my sincere hope. It is, moreover, a pleasure to think 
that by the months of labor involved in its production 
I may have made return for the kindly and hospitable 
welcomes I have received in so many homes in old 
Bridgehampton since my own has also been made here. 



JAMES TRUSLOW ADAMS 



'Wigwam," 
Mecox, 

August 17th, 1916. 



REFERENCES 

Buell, Rev. Sam'l.— A Faithful Narrative, &c., 1808. 

Barber & Howe— Hist. Coll. of State of N. Y., 1845. 

Beauchamp, W. N. — Aboriginal Place Names of N.Y. 

Beauchamp, W. N. — Aboriginal Occupation of N. Y. 

Bayles, R. M.— Sketches of Suffolk County, 1874. 

Bi-Centennial Addresses on Suffolk County, 1885. 

Converse, H. M. — Myths and Legends of the N. Y. 
State Iroquois. 

Documentary Hist, of New York, 4 vols. 

Documents Rel. to Col. Hist, of New York, 14 vols. 

Davis, Capt. W. M.— Nimrod of the Sea, 1874. 

Furman, G. — Antiquities of Long Island, 1874. 

Flint, M. B. — Early Long Island. 

French, J. H.— Gazetteer of the State of N. Y., 1860. 

Fuller, M. L. — Geology of Long Island. 

Hedges, Hon. H. P. — Hist of East Hampton. 

Hedges, Hon. H. P. — Memories of a Long Life 
(pamphlet). 

Hedges, Hon. H. P.— Sag Harbor Address, 1902, 
(pamphlet). 

Hedges, Hon. H. P.— Address Suffolk Co. Hist. Soc, 
1889, (pamphlet). 

Hedges, Hon. H. P. — Centennial Address (pamphlet). 

Hedges, Hon. H. P. — Bi-Centennial Address (pam- 
phlet). 



VI REFERENCES 

Howell, Rev. G. R. — Hist, of Southampton, 1887. 

Lewis, A. — Hist, of Lynn, Mass., 1844. 

Mather, F. G. — The Refugees of 1776 from Long 
Island to Conn. 

Mulford, Ann — Sketch of Dr. John Smith Sage (pam- 
phlet). 

Miller, W. J.— Geological Hist, of State of N. Y. 

New England Memorial, &c., ed. Boston, 1855. 

Onderdonk, H., Jr. — Rev. Incidents in Sufifolk & 
Kings Go's. 

Pelletreau, W. S. — Early Long Island Wills. 

Palfrey, J. G. — Hist, of New England, 3 vols. 

Prime, Rev. N. S. — Hist of Long Island, 1845. 

Spafiford — Gazetteer of the State of N. Y., 1813. 

Starbuck, Alex.— Hist, of the Am. Whale Fishery, 
1876. 

Seawanhaka. Lippincott's Mag. Nov., 1878. 

Shinnecock Notes — Journal of Am. Folk Lore Jan.- 
Mar., 1903. 

Story of a Celebration, Bridgehampton, 1910. 

Tooker, W. W. — Lecture before the Bklyn. Inst., 
1892. 

Tooker, W. W. — Indian Place Names of Long. Id. 

Tooker, W. W. — Indian Names for Long Id. 

Tooker, W^ W\ — Some Indian Fishing Stations upon 
Long Id. 

Thompson, B. F.— Hist, of Long Id., 1843, 2 vols. 

Town Records, Southampton, 6 vols. 

Town Records, East Hampton, 5 vols. 

W^inthrop, John — Hist, of New England, 2 vols. ed. 
of 1853. 

Wood, Silas — Sketch of the first Settlement of the 
several Towns on Long Id., 1828. 



TABLE OF CONTENTS 

Preface .... . . . .1 

References . . . . , • . V 

Chapter I The Land . . . . . i 

Chapter II The Indians ..... 20 

Chapter III Settlement by the EngHsh . . 42 

Chapter IV Early Mecox and Sagg . . -64 

Chapter V The Bridge, Bull Head, Wick's Tavern 89 

Chapter VI Early Government, Laws and Customs 105 

Chapter VII The Revolution, War of 1812. Civil 

War 124 

Chapter VIII Early XlXth Century, Schools &c 156 

Chapter IX The Churches . . . • 184 

Chapter X Old Houses, Mills and Toll Gate . 213 

Chapter XI Wrecks, Old Cannon, Pirates &c . 234 

Chapter XII Whaling and Whalers . . 256 

Chapter XIII The "Forty Niners" . . 285 

Appendix . . . . . . . • vS^i 

Index ..,,.. . .385 



CHAPTER I 

THE LAND 

In the creation myth of the Iroquois, it is alleged that 
Sho-gwa-yah-dih-sat-oh, "He who created us," dwelt on 
an island of perpetual peace and tranquillity which 
floated in space above a great cloud-sea, and on the 
island grew a stately tree, laden with fruit and blossoms, 
under which the people held their council meetings. 
One day the Creator said that he would make a new 
place, for another people, in the great cloud sea which 
rolled beneath, and uprooting the tree, bade Ata-en-sic 
to look below. She saw nothing, but the Creator knew 
the voice of the sea, and sent Ata-en-sic, wrapped in a 
ray of light, to carry life down to the new world to be. 

The animals and birds which dwelt there were 
astounded by the light, and feared that they would be 
destroyed if it should fall on them. 

"'Where can it rest?' asked the Duck. 

" 'Only the oeh-da (earth) can hold it.' said the 
Beaver, 'the oeh-da which lies at the bottom of our 
waters, and I will bring it.' The Beaver went down, 
but never returned. Then the Duck ventured, but soon 
its dead body floated to the surface. 

"Many of the divers had tried and failed, when the 
Muskrat, knowing the way, volunteered to obtain it, 
and soon returned bearing a small portion in his paw. 
'But it is heavy,' said he, 'and will grow fast. Who will 
bear it?' 

"The Turtle was willing, and the oeh-da was placed 



2 MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 

on his hard shell. Having received a resting place for 
the light, the water birds, guided by its glow, flew up- 
ward, and receiving the woman on their wide spread 
wings, bore her down to the Turtle's back. And Hah- 
nu-nah, the Turtle, became the Earth-Bearer. When 
he stirs, the seas rise in great waves, and when restless 
and violent, earthquakes yawn and devour." * 

We need not follow further this elaborate Iroquois 
myth of the creation of man and the earth, but it is inter- 
esting as showing the thoughts of the aborigines con- 
cerning the origin of the land in which they dwelt, and 
the interest is further heightened by the fact that in 
their conception of that land as having been raised from 
beneath the waters of a great sea, they only anticipated 
the geologic truth of the present day. 

It is now recognized that the oldest rock formation in 
the state, and one of the very oldest of the earth, known 
as the Grenville, occurring in the Adirondacks and, 
probably, in the Highlands of the Hudson, was of sed- 
imentary origin, and that at the time it was deposited 
on a still earlier but as yet undiscovered rock forma- 
tion, all of northern and eastern, and perhaps south- 
western New York was below the level of the sea. It 
has been estimated that the time required for the de- 
position of this layer of sediment was approximately 
from twenty to twenty-five million years. As sed- 
imentary deposits are made by the wearing away of 
adjacent land masses and are not carried far into deep 
waters distant from the coasts, the old continent washed 
by the shores of the Grenville ocean, could not have 
been far distant to the west or north, but nothing is as 
yet known of its outline. Only two things are certain, 
the presence of the ocean, and the fact deduced from 
the occurrence of graphite, that life of some sort, 
whether animal or vegetable, was already stirring in 
its waters. 

* Myths and Legends of the Iroquois. Converse, pp. 31-33. 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 3 

At various times during this period, great disturb- 
ances occurred owing to the igneous activity of the 
earth thousands of feet below the surface, and the 
forcing upward into the Grenville rock of enormous 
masses of molten material, of which probably the oldest 
became the Laurentian granite. At an indeterminate 
time, in reference to these igneous activities, a great 
mass of land, including the Adirondack region, and per- 
haps all of northern and eastern New York, was raised 
above sea level as a result of enormous pressure, and a 
land of mountains, probably far higher than the Adiron- 
dacks of today, was formed. By the time, however, 
that we reach the geological period known as Cambrian 
we again find all eastern New York, except part of the 
Adirondacks, which formed a mountainous island, sunk 
below what is known as the Cambrian sea. Next fol- 
lowed the Ordovicic period, in which the ocean, now to 
be called the Ordovicic sea, covered all the Mississippi 
Valley, the Appalachian Mountain region, and all New 
York and New England except the island of Adirondack 
Mountains, while, on the other hand, a great continent, 
known as Appalachia, existed in what is now the 
Atlantic Ocean, the western coast line of which con- 
tinent, was approximately the present eastern coast 
line of the United States. This Ordovicic sea swarmed 
with graptolites and trilobites which became extinct 
millions of years ago. 

Toward the close of this period, another great con- 
vulsion took place throughout what is now the eastern 
United States north of Virginia by which a stupendous 
mountain range, known to geologists as the Taconic, 
was thrown up, and eastern New York again became dry 
land. Among the remnants of this once mighty range 
are the White Mountains, Green Mountains and Berk- 
shire Hills. Processes of erosion and continental sink- 
ing then ensued, and by the end of the Siluric period 
all eastern and southern New York was once more be- 



4 MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 

neath the sea. Passing over intermediate changes and 
coming down to the close of the Tertiary, we find the 
elevation of southeastern New York some 3,000 feet 
above the present, and the coast Hne about 100 miles 
further eastward, the Hudson River emptying into the 
ocean that distance from its present mouth, and the 
present site of Long Island part of the continent far 
inland. In the next, and present age of the earth's his- 
tory, the Quaternary, occurred the changes and events 
which created Long Island as we know it today. These 
were mainly two, the coming of the ice sheet, or sheets, 
and the changes in elevation of the land. Speaking of 
the latter first, we may say that a long period of subsi- 
dence occurred, during which eastern New York was 
once more submerged, followed by a shorter period of 
elevation which has raised the land to its present level.* 

While to this elevation is due the existence of Long 
Island above sea level, its form and characteristic fea- 
tures are mainly the result of the ice movement, supple- 
mented later by the action of wind and wave. 

The ice sheets which gradually spread over the land, 
flowing down from the north from three centers of accu- 
mulation and outflow, were of almost incredible extent 
and thickness. It is estimated that they covered an 
area of 4,000,000 square miles (the present ice sheet of 
Greenland covers about 500,000 square miles) and that 
the thickness of the ice in New York was several thou- 
sand feet, completely submerging the Adirondacks and 
possibly the Catskills, although thinning out very rap- 
idly at its southern limits, the extreme end of which 
was along Long Island. The edge of the sheet, with 
changes of climate, may have advanced and retreated 
several times, and the whole duration of the period has 
been variously estimated at from 500,000 to 1,000,000 
years, while the average estimate of the period involved 

* The above is largely summarized from "The Geol. of N. Y. 
State." Miller. 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 5 

since the final retreat of the ice is about 25,000 years. 
The chief point in dispute in the geological history of 
the Island is as to whether there were several or but 
one invasions of the ice, and the latest book on the sub- 
ject by Prof. W, O. Crosby, soon to be published, will 
take the ground that there was only one. 

It must be understood that during the whole ice 
period, the ice was steadily flowing" southward and 
that the terms advance and retreat simply indicate that 
the point at which melting of the ice stream took place 
was som.etimes further south than at others. During all 
of the period the ice continued to flow slowly over the 
surface of the land, eroding that surface by means of 
the materials borne along by it in its course, and depos- 
iting this material finally at the place where the melting 
into water occurred. This material, so deposited, was 
of vast extent, and where the glacier's melting limit re- 
mained stationary for a long period, formed what are 
called moraines, of which one of the most characteristic 
specimens is the line of hills which I see from my win- 
dow as I write, and which are, erroneously, called the 
backbone of Long Island. The real backbone of Long 
Island is buried far from sight, and these hills are more 
properly speaking a row of buttons down its coat. From 
the front of the glacier, as it melted, enormous amounts 
of water poured forth, carrying in it finer materials to 
be deposited by sedimentation, the greater part near the 
glacier, the amount lessening as the distance increased. 
In this way was formed that characteristic stretch of 
gently sloping even land which everywhere on the 
island extends from the hills to the sea toward the 
south, and which is technically known as the over wash 
plain. The elevation of this plain at the liberty pole in 
Bridgehampton village is about 42 feet; at the junction of 
Scuttle Hole Road and the Brickiln Road, about 115 
feet. Mrs. Gardiner's house stands a little over 200 feet. 

Sometirnes the water from the glacier front took 



6 MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 

more the form of separate streams, in which cases the 
deposit was more or less fanhke in shape, forming lobe 
like hills. Again the stream might issue at a consider- 
able elevation above the ground so that the deposit 
made would be almost circular as the water fell, making 
a round hill. Of the former, the best example is Bald 
Hill, four miles southwest of Riverhead, and of the 
latter, High Hill, at the north end of the Mannetto Hills. 

Owing to the advance and retreat of the ice front 
over a limited territory compound ridges would be 
formed rather than a single morainal ridge, and one of 
the best examples of such compound ridges lies north- 
west of Bridgehampton, extending from Hampton Park, 
Southampton, to Sag Harbor. 

At times, the ice seemed to develop enormous power 
to shove rather than over ride the material deposited 
in front of it, resulting in the formation of hills 100-150 
feet high, displaying much mixture of material and 
numerous "faults." Examples of this formation are 
the Shinnecock Hills and those between Fort Pond 
Bay and Napeague Bay. although drifting sand has 
somewhat altered their contours. 

Among the most interesting and characteristic of 
glacial formations and of which there are particularly 
good examples around Bridgehampton, are those de- 
pressions, frequently occupied by ponds or lakes, which 
are known as "kettles." Many of our ponds belong to 
this class, but one of the most noted on the Island is 
that known as Scuttle Hole Pond, on the north side of 
Scuttle Hole Road. These "kettles" were formed in 
various ways, sometimes being merely the depressions 
between two successive deposits of glacial material, in 
which cases their axes run parallel to the line of the old 
ice face and they are rarely more than thirty feet deep. 
Or they may have been formed by the deposit of glacial 
material over huge blocks of ice, projecting ice masses, 
or large solidified accumulations of snow. In all these 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 7 

latter cases, material would be deposited either wholly 
over or banked up against the sides of these masses, 
and as they melted, the deposited material would sink 
down, taking the place of the melted ice or snow, and 
form depressions in the land surface of varying shapes 
and sizes. Sometimes the melting ice mass would itself 
deposit material by the little streams which flowed from 
it, forming a "kettle rim," of which the best example on 
the Island is near the gap in the moraine two miles 
northwest of Southampton. As stated, most of the 
ponds around Bridgehampton, even Water Mill Pond 
and Poxabogue, are in kettles, while Scuttle Hole Pond 
(40 feet deep and 70 feet below the surrounding sur- 
faces) forms one of the deepest, and, with the other 
ponds south of it, viz : Jehu Pond, Austen's Pond, Long 
Pond and Kellis Pond, one of the best known "chain" 
of kettles. 

As earlier stated, it is held by some that there were 
interglacial periods due to changes in climate, and it is 
to these warm periods that they attribute the growth of 
trees and other vegetable matter, relics of which have 
so frequently been found buried deep below the deposits 
of subsequent periods. These have been found for the 
most part in making borings for wells, the records of 
which have aided greatly in the increase of knowledge 
of the geology of the Island. The record of Messrs. 
J. A. Sanford & Son's well in Bridgehampton is given 
below : 
Depth in Feet, 

70 Tisbury (Manhasset formation)? Gray mi- 
caceous clay, with a few small quartz peb- 
bles. 
100 Sankaty (Jacob sand and Gardiner's clay)? 
Medium grayish white sand and gravel, 
with pieces of greenish clay containing 
frag^ments of shells. 



8 MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 

Depth in Feet. 

105 Jameco — Fine to medium orange colored 

sand. 
no Jameco — Orange colored gravel, apparently 
identical with that of the old glacial bed on 
Gardiner's Island. 
112 Jameco — Very fine yellow silt, with orange 

gravel. 
115 Cretaceous — Fine gray sand with muscovite 

and lignite. 
140 Cretaceous — Medium yellow sand, with frag- 
ments of shells. 
140 Cretaceous — Gray, clayey sand, with frag- 
ments of shells. 
155 Cretaceous — Greenish gray sandy clay, with 

fragments of shells. 
165 Cretaceous — Very fine dark gray sand, with 

some coarse white quartz sand. 
190 Cretaceous — Fine light gray sand. 
210 Cretaceous — Fine to coarse light gray sand 

with partly lignitized wood. 
215 Cretaceous — Medium white micaceous sand. 
222 Cretaceous — Fine light gray sand with lignite. 
231 Cretaceous — Lignite and large flakes of mus- 
covite. 
235 Cretaceous — Medium white micaceous sand. 
275 — 287 Cretaceous — White sand, muscovite and lig- 
nitized wood. 
287 — 288 Cretaceous — Fragments of iron pyrites. 
288 — 300 Cretaceous — Fine to medium grayish yellow 
sand. 
Prof. W .0. Crosby has kindly given me his interpre- 
tation of the above record as "Outwash, drift and San- 
katy 0-105 feet, Lafayette 105-115 feet, Miocene 115- 
165 feet and Magothy 165-300 ft." 

Myron L. Fuller in his "Geology of Long Island" 
(from which the table is taken), states that the shells 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 9 

noted occur in Gardiner's clay, which he thinks of an 
interglacial epoch. At the time this book was written 
(1913), no shells had been found on Long Island of the 
Tertiary period, and considerable interest was aroused 
among scientists by the discovery of a bed of fossil 
shells, thought to belong to that period, in a pit on the 
west side of the Brick Kiln Road about a half mile north 
of Mrs. Gardiner's drive, late in 1914 by Thomas C. 
Topping. These shells were buried from 8 to 10 feet 
below the surface of the ground at a point between 3 
and 4 miles from the ocean and about 140 feet above 
sea level. This locality was, of course, below sea level 
at the time when these shells found their final resting 
place there, or at least temporary resting place for a 
million years or so. 

Mr. William D. Halsey called these shells to the at- 
tention of Prof. W. O. Crosby, who is now writing the 
history of the geology of New York for that state, and 
through Mr. Halsey 's kindness I have today received 
a letter from Professor Crosby in which he writes me 
that these fossils are undoubtedly of Sankaty age and 
that his colleague. Dr. Hervey W. Shimer has identi- 
fied the following species : Venus mercenaria, variety 
antiqua. Area transversa. Area linula, Anomia aculeata, 
Crepidula fornicata, Neverita duplicata, and Cliona 
sulphurea; and adds "their normal position in the ge- 
ologic section is below sea level and they owe their 
present elevation of approximately 140 feet above the 
sea to the drag and thrust of the ice-sheet." 

Professor Crosby's notes made at the time of his ex- 
amination of the shell bed, and of which he has kindly 
furnished me with a transcript, were as follows : "On 
moraine, ^ mile north of Ocean View [residence of Mr. 
William D. Halsey] and approximately 140 feet above 
the sea. Borrow pit for road metal on west side of road, 
100 ft. long, 50 ft. wide, and 5 to 15 ft. deep. The sec- 
tion shows chiefly massive and tough red clay, varying 



] MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 

to greenish and often more sandy clay. This clay, of 
probably Miocene age, is highly deformed by the 
glacial thrust and drag which have shoved it up from its 
normal position below, sea level. No trace of original 
bedding remains. Traces of lignite occur in the clay. 
On the south side of the pit is the shell bed, 0-3 ft. thick, 
and seeming to dip southwesterly. It is overlain by 5 
or 6 ft. of greenish gray clayey sand grading upward 
into sandy clay, with 6 inches of plastic red clay at the 
top, over which comes 4 ft. of yellow sand and gravel 
(originally Lafayette). The shell bed, or matrix of the 
shells, is a fine clayey sand, which seems to grade into 
the sand above the shells. This sand with its contained 
shells must be referred to the Sankaty ; and the red or 
chocolate and greenish clay, both above and below, to 
the Miocene; their present complicated and topsy- 
turvy relations being due to the great glacial deforma- 
tion which has so strongly elevated the entire series of 
beds." 

The beaches along the south shore have been formed 
partly by deposition and partly by erosion. It is prob- 
able that in the ice age the land at Bridgehampton ex- 
tended from a half mile to a mile further seaward than 
at present. The beach here has been due mainly to the 
erosion of the land, the surplus material being carried 
westward to form the great barrier beaches south of 
the Bays, 100 miles long and adding 25 square miles of 
land surface to the island. The movement of material 
is all westward, about two acres being lost to the sea 
annually in the region of Montauk. The main material 
of the beach is quartz sand with some magnetic and 
garnetiferous sands intermixed, pebbles being found 
only where the beach adjoins the main land, as in the one 
here. The sands are formed by the breaking up of the 
pebbles and boulders of the glacial drift. Owing to the 
apparent necessity of a very thorough stirring of the 
sands in order to separate the magnetic and garnetifer- 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON \\ 

ous particles from the quartz, the segregated masses of 
the former are best observed after a heavy storm. 

The work of erosion is still continuing, and the ocean 
has probably encroached about lOO feet or more on the 
land since the first settlers came here. It has been stated 
that whale boats abandoned on the north side of the 
dunes have been overwhelmed by them and have long 
after reappeared on the ocean side, the sand hills thus 
passing completely over them on their march inland. 
This year (1916) the wind and water having made a 
deep cut through the dunes about 200 feet west of the 
Life Saving Station, I found that there was uncovered 
an old road, which may have been used by the settlers in 
the early days to gain access to the meadow lands back 
of the beach, and which, in any case, must have orig- 
inally lain back of the dunes. It lies at present under 
about fifteen feet of sand in the middle of the dune for- 
mation. An article in the News, May 13, 1910, states 
that owing to a shifting of the dunes on the farm of John 
Hand an old road also came to light there. This road 
along the beach banks was not, as has several times 
been stated, the old main road, for that followed the line 
of the present Mecox Road and then crossed at the 
Wading Place in Calves Creek. The beach road is, 
however, very ancient, probably 200 years at least and 
was used not only to gain entrance to the meadows for 
grass cutting but was also used later by the fish wagons. 
These latter had very broad tired wheels, and the wheel 
marks still visible are probably those made by these 
wagons. 

In an article in the News (June 9, 1916) Mr. W. S. 
Pelletreau states that "there is evidence that at South- 
ampton the ocean has encroached the whole width of 
the beach, and the same is doubtless true of Bridge- 
hampton." Among other specific evidences of en- 
croachment which I have found are the following. The 
lot mentioned as "John Jagger's beach lot" in the Town 



] 2 MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 

Records in 1694 is now wholly covered by the ocean or 
beach (T. R. Vol. II, p. 353), while in the winter of 1864 
a row of thirteen fence posts was visible at very low 
tide, standing" in the sand a few feet from the water's 
edge, which had originally been set in meadow bottom, 
doubtless subsequent to 1694. Again the lot described 
in the Records as sold by Thurston Raynor (Vol. V, 
p. 280) was long ago covered by the dunes. There are 
other instances but the only other one I will here men- 
tion, and that for reason of a different interest, took 
place not here but at Cape I\Iay, N. J., whither Christo- 
pher Leaming of Sagg, and a party of colonists from 
the Hamptons went in 1692 and built a village of thir- 
teen houses. Owing to the encroachment of the sea not 
only the village but the graves of these early Hampton 
men are now covered by the ocean.* The movement of 
the beach banks does not seem to be always inland, 
however, for Thompson in his History of Long Island 
(1843) mentions an instance of land in Southampton 
having been covered by the encroachment of the dunes 
and of their sulDsecpiently having drifted off again. 
(Vol. I, p. 41.) 

Sometimes, owing to wind action, dune formation oc 
curs in a modified form a considerable distance inland, 
although at present mainly confined to a narrow strip 
along the beach. At East Hampton dune formation ex- 
tends i^ miles inland, and the hill formation of the old 
moraine, south, southeast and southwest of Sag Harbor, 
before it became forested was covered with drifting 
sand, as were also the Shinnecock Hills, whicli latter 
were described by Timothy Dwight in 1822 as bare 
dunes still drifting with the winds. Prime, speaking of 
them in 1845, says that they were then "composed 
almost entirely of fine sand, which is still drifted hither 
and thither by the winds . . . perfectly naked ex- 
cept extensive patches of whortle berry, bay berry and 

* Old Long Island Wills. Pelletreau, p. 45. 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 13 

Other small shrubs,"* while Bayles, in 1874, described 
them as "huge piles of sand," forming "an impassable 
barrier which divided the intercourse of civilization 
here and there a patch of some low growing 
shrub and scattered blades of 'poverty grass' are the 
only representatives of vegetation that dare an exist- 
ence upon the hills. "t At present (1916) while there 
is as yet no forest growth of timber, yet there are in- 
numerable fair sized cedars, black oak and other trees 
scattered over the hills , singly and in large groups, and 
the vegetation of various lower sorts is quite thick, 
while there is no more beautiful sight than the autumn 
coloring of these Downs on a clear October day. 

Associated with these hills is the legend of the "dare 
devil traveller who challenged all the grim spirits of the 
infernal regions to deter him from them on a dark and 
stormy night, many years ago, and was soon after found 
lying dead by the roadside, without a mark of violence 
upon him except that his tongue was drawn out 'by the 
roots' and hung on a neighboring bush. As his money 
was found untouched in his pockets, it was evident 
that the mysterious deed had not been perpetrated for 
plunder, and as the peculiar nature of the wound seemed 
to forbid the supposition that human hands were re- 
sponsible for the deed, its commission was ascribed 
directly to the fiends of darkness whose vengeance the 
hapless traveller had defied."! 

Aside from these hills, there is ample evidence to 
show that when the settlers first came here, the coun- 
try around the Hamptons was fairly well wooded and 
that the woods came close to, if not right down to, the 
ocean. Secretary von Tienhoven describing Montauk 
in 1650 states that it "is entirely covered with trees, 

* Prime. Hist, of Long Island, p. 15. 
t Bayles. Sketches of Suffolk Co., p. 325. 

J Ibid, p. 324. In 1861, 3,200 acres of the hills were sold for 
$6,250. 



] 4 MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 

without any flats, and is somewhat hilly and stony."* In 
the Town Records there are frequent references to 
woods near the sea. In 1653 occurred the laying out into 
/ots of the lands at Mecox and Sagaponack, almost all of 
which lay southward of the line of the present Mecox 
Road. In the description lot number 26 is described as 
"31 poles wide on the skirt of the little plaine eastward 
of meacox water running from the beach to the creek 
toward the woods" ; lots 28, 29 and 30 as "on the end of 
the neck northward, or meacox-ward, of the last said 
creek, and bounded by marked trees, and elsewhere by 
pond creek and water"; lot 31 as "bounding no. 30, and 
is the next little neck Northward bounded towards the 
woods by marked trees. "f In 1645, ^" connection with 
laying out 10 acres on the "great playne" (Southamp- 
ton) it is added "what shall be wanting . . . shall 
be supplyed at the upper end next the wood land. "J 
The "meadow at the beach and pines" is mentioned 
several times, as well as the "seders on the beach." In 
the Canoe Place division of 1738 it is provided that "all 
the Red Seder timber on the beach is laid to be & Re- 
maine to those lots" and, in this same division, the 
"seder swamps" are divided, and pine trees and red oaks 
used as boundary points. || Again in a deed dated April 
12, 1666, 1-3 of a £50 allotment at Sagg, butting south 
upon the sea and north into the woods is sold to Thomas 
Topping, while another tract of 10 acres, in the preced- 
ing year, was bounded south by the beach and north by 
the woods. § An interesting bit of evidence as to trees 
in the neighborhood of "Beach House" at the intersec- 
tion of Ocean Road and the private road running" east, is 
given in 1685 in a survey which began at "the south- 
west corner at the great stump" then to "a little red oak 

* Docts. Rel. to the Col. Hist, of State N. Y. Vol. I, p. 365. 

t T. R. Vol. I, pp. 98, 99. 

X T. R. Vol. 1, p. 36. 

II Vol. Ill, p. 127. 

§ News, Mar. 11. 1915. Note by W. S. P. 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 15 

tree," then to "a white oak tree," and so around "to the 
tree at the cross highway.'"* 

I need not multiply instances, but the evidence all 
points to the woods having extended near to the water, 
and that some of the timber was of good size. Tradi- 
tion confirms this latter point, for Miss H. B. Hedges 
stated to me that her father told her that his father told 
him that their former house in Sagg Street, which stood 
on the site of the present homestead of Mr. Clifford 
Foster was originally built of timber growing around 
the site of the house. The house, which was remodelled 
in 1709, was built of oak timbers and the beams were 
very large. On the other hand, while the woods came 
fairly close to the sea, with open stretches of meadow 
land between and with some good timber, it is probable 
that they were largely of moderate sized or small 
growth. The Indians used to burn them through in the 
spring in order to clear them of underbrush, and this 
undoubtedly destroyed much timber and checked the 
development of a larger growth. Consequently, in the 
early days of the settlements, we find the increasing- 
scarcity of timber noticed in various ways. As is well 
known, the timber for the meeting house in East Hamp- 
ton was cut on Gardiner's Island.! In Southampton at 
the Quarter Court, September, 1662, Richard Smith, 
"being convicted of misdemeanour in and about felling 
timber contrary to order & strict prohibition, is award- 
ed by the Cort to pay £5 to the town's use," etc. J 
Again, in 1664, "It is ordered that from henceforth noe 
person whatsoever shall improve any timber withui the 
bounds of this Towne in pipe staves, or of any other 
nature or forme, by selling them to any that shall con- 
vey them out of this plantation upon penalty of 20s. per 
tree." \\ At the present time the woods at Bridgehamp- 

* T. R. Vol. II, p. 284. 
t E. H. T. R. Vol. Ill, D. 366. 
X S. H. T. R. Vol. II, p. 20. 
II T. R. Vol. II, p. 233. 



16 MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 

ton begin nearly four miles from the ocean, well rip on 
the hill sides. 

Very likely as a result of the continual decrease in 
the area covered by trees, the amount of water in the 
ponds and streams seems to have suffered a steady de- 
cline. The presence of mills and dams on streams which 
now hardly exist except at certain times, and othc inrii- 
cations, all point to this in my opinion. Sagg Pond was 
undoubtedly larger, and a mill and dam were located 
at its head, where the bridge now crosses the trickling 
stream from the swamp. In 1843, Thompson in his 
History mentions as one of the nine principal marshes 
of Long Island as there specified, the tract lying be- 
tween Sagg Pond and Mecox Bay, which is practically 
all firm land. Mr. Addison M. Cook tells me that when 
a boy he used to fish in Scuttle Hole Pond from an apple 
tree now standing far back from the water's edge, and 
Kellis Pond used to drain into Mecox Bay through the 
canal like depression still clearly marked, running in a 
southwesterly direction. 

The present relation of land and water area was given 
in a speech by Judge Hedges (1910) as follows: "From 
the flagstafif to the Water Mill, the west bounds of 
Bridgehampton, is a little over 3^ miles, and to its east 
bounds is a litle short of 2^ miles, from the ocean to the 
middle line, probably its proper north line is, say 4^/2 
miles, and its whole area is about 27 square miles.* 
The forest covers about 4^ square miles, the waters 
about 2^ square miles. Mecox Bay is estimated at 
1,200 acres, Mill Pond at 60, Kellis Pond at 40, Sagg 
Pond at 100. This is the judgment of a practical sur- 
veyor, and the estimate of water in Mecox Bay assigned 
to Bridgehampton seems large. Still deducting all 

* Bridgehampton is not an incorporated village and various 
boundary limits may be taken, using the election districts or other 
divisions as a basis. In this volume I take the above southern, 
eastern, and northern bounds but stop west at Hay Ground. 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 17 

waters and forest, it leaves for Bridgehampton's culti- 
vated area 15 square miles, and 9,600 acres of fertile 
land rarely excelled." 

The present sheets of water in the neighborhood are 
Mecox Bay, Sagg Pond, Fairfield Pond and Little, or 
Peter's, Pond. Poxabogue lies north of the East Hamp- 
ton Road and west of the road from Sagg to the Har- 
bor.* 

Northwest of Poxabogue, north of the railroad and 
just east of the Sag Harbor Turnpike from Bull Head is 
Black Pond. Near this same point, but just west of the 
turnpike, between the two railroad lines, is Slate, or 
Slade, Pond. This little pond is frequently dry, though 
at other times it has a considerable amount of water, and 
the name may be derived from the obsolete English 
word "slade," signifying a "flat piece of low moist 
ground," as suggested to me by Mr. A. M. Cook. Con- 
tinuing north between the two Sag Plarbor roads, we 
find a little pond known as Deer's Hole, then Crooked 
Pond, Long Pond and Round Pond, and next west to 
Long Pond are Lily Pond and Little Long Pond. The 
pond just north of the railroad in Sag Harbor is Otter 
Pond, so called because of the plentifulness of that ani- 
mal there in the early days. The depression known as 
Hacker's Hole on the east side of Ocean Road, Bridge- 
hampton, a little north of Bridge Lane is now dry, but 
in the old days there was quite a pond there. Running 
northwest from Kellis Pond we have the chain already 
mentioned, viz : Long Pond, Jehu, or Short, Pond, Gold- 
fish, Deep, or Austin's Pond, Scuttle Hole, or Haynes', 
Pond, and i^ or 2 miles further. Camp's Pond. On the 
north side of Mecox Bay, starting at Sam's Creek, on 

* Poxabogue Pond varies greatly as to the amount of water in it. 
Late in September, 1910, it became so dry that people could walk 
across its bed, which was said at the time not to have happened 
before for ninety years. At that time (1910) an old wagon wheel 
lost fifty years before by Aaron Fithian was found imbedded in the 
mud. (See News, Sept. 30, 1910.) 



18 MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMFTON 

the extreme east, we have successively toward the west, 
Job's, or Doxey's, Creek, Swan Creek, Paine's Creek, 
Cook's Creek, Calf Creek, Oliver's Creek, Hay Ground 
Bay or Cove, Mud Creek, Mill, or Benedict's, Creek 
(crossing the Main Road at Watermill), Myer's Pond 
(opening into Mill Creek toward the south), and Bur- 
nett Creek (crossed by the road running south from 
Cobb ). The five ponds lying near the beach west of the 
Bay, are, going westward, Channel Pond, Jule Pond, 
Sayre Pond, Phillip's Pond, Wickapogue Pond, Old 
Town Pond, and Lake Agawam in Southampton. 

It has always been the custom from the very earliest 
days to cut openings through the beach sometime in the 
fall, winter, or spring, to allow the waters of Mecox Bay 
and (later) of Sagg Pond to flow into the ocean, partly 
to prevent these sheets of water flooding the surround- 
ing lands, partly on account of the oyster beds, and at 
first, largely, on account of the water mill, to ensure the 
running of the mill stream. This opening is known as 
the "Seapoose," and ocasionally, though wrongly, as the 
"Bay poose." The word is Indian in origin, and signi- 
fies a "little river," being also, as Mr. Tooker points out, 
sepoese (little river) in the Narragansett tongue. The 
first syllable has nothing to do with the English word 
sea, but has given rise to our English word sea-puss, and 
so back again, I suppose, to the wrongly derived ex- 
pression, Bay-puss. The cut at one time used to be 
made further east, near Mr. Berwind's bungalow, and 
it is this which is sometimes spoken of as "the old 
route." 

References to cutting the Seapoose are very frequent 
in the Records, and wherever mentioned refers to the 
outlet for Mecox Bay. The first I find is of 1647 — '^t is 
ordered this instant 17th of the 12th month 1647 that 
the profit of whales and the burthen of opening the 
beach for the mill," etc.* Again on Sept. 10, 1650, it is 

* T. R. Vol. I, p. 43. 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON IQ 

ordered that certain men named "are to have for their 
pains 3s. per day at the seapoose."* On Oct. 24, 1653, 
"Captaine Topping-, Mr. Rayner, & John White are ap- 
pointed and left to agree (if they can) with the miller 
concerning the alteration of his mill to ease the town of 
the burden of opening the seapoose," etc. t Human na- 
ture sometimes got the better of parliamentary pro- 
cedure apparently, for "at a towne meeting November 
2, 1652, Isaack Willman in a passionate manner said 
that some of them that voated for the raising of the mill 
knew noe more what belonged to the seapoose than a 
dogge. Note, he hath given satisfaction," 1 

* Ibid, p. 69. 
t Ibid, p. 94. 
X Ibid, Vol. II, p. 85. 



CHAPTER II 

THE INDIANS 

Authorities are agreed on locating thirteen Indian 
tribes on Long Island, viz : the Montauks, Manhassetts, 
Shinnecocks, Corchaugs, Unkechaugs, Setauketts, 
Secktaugs, Nessaquagues, Merricokes, Marsapeagues, 
Matinecocks, Rockaways and Canarsies, although the 
nomenclature varies somewhat. All of these belonged 
to the great Algonquin family. 

At the time of the v^^hite settlements, the four tribes 
of the Montauks, Manhassetts, Shinnecocks and Cor- 
chaugs were ruled by four brothers as Sachems, and 
Youghco, the Sachem of the Manhassetts, was also 
Sachem of Paumanack, or Long Island, but on or be- 
fore his death in 1652, this overlordship of the other 
Long Island tribes passed to Wyandance ("the wise 
speaker"), Sachem of the Montauks, whose power cer- 
tainly was acknowledged as far west as Hempstead, as 
is shown by his signature on Indian deeds. The title 
was extinguished upon the death of Weoncombone, son 
and heir of Wyandance. The other brothers were Mo- 
moweta ("he gathers them in his house"). Sachem of 
Cutchogue, and Nowedonah ("the seeker"), or Weena- 
gamin ("the sour berry") — they frequently changed 
their names — Sachem of the Shinnecocks. 

On the East End of the Island the tribes were under 
tribute to the Pequots of Connecticut, but after the 
Pequot War in 1637 this tribute was paid to the Eng- 
lish, for Lion Gardiner in his history of this war states 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 21 

that "three days after the fight came Waiandance, next 
brother to the old Sachem of Long Island . . . and 
said he, *I will go to my brother, for. he is the Great 
Sachem of Long Island, and if we may have peace and 
trade with you, we will give you tribute as we did the 
Pequits.' " * 

An early writer, speaking of Sachems, says, "Each 
tribe usually dwells together, and there is one among 
them who is chief, but he does not possess much power 
or distinction, except in their dances and in time of 
war." t Governor Winslow, in his account of the Na- 
tives of New England, says : "Their sachems cannot all 
be called kings, but only some few of them to whom the 
rest resort for protection and pay homage unto them. 
Every sachem taketh care of the widow and 
fatherless, also for such as are aged or any way maimed, 
if their friends be dead or not able to provide for 
them. A sachem will not take any to wife but such an 
one as is equal to him in birth ; otherwise they say their 
seed would in time become ignoble ; and though they 
have many other wives yet are they no other than con- 
cubines or servants. . . . This government is suc- 
cessive and not by choice; if the father die before the 
son or daughter be of age, then the child is committed 
to the protection and tuition of some one amongst them, 
who ruleth in his stead till he be of age, but when that is 
I know not. Every sachem knoweth how far the 
bounds and limits of his own country extendeth ; and 
that is his own proper inheritance; out of that, if any 
cf his men desire land to set their corn, he giveth them 
as much as they can use, and sets them in their bounds. 
In this circuit, whoever hunteth, if any kill venison, they 
bring him his fee; which is four parts of the same, if it 

* One of the Indian names for Long Island, Paumanack, means 
"the land of tribute" and commemorates this period of its subjec- 
tion to the Pequots. 

t Remonstrance of New Netherland, etc., 1649. Col. Docts., Vol. 
I, p. 282. 



22 MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 

be killed on land, but if in the water, then the skin 
thereof. . . . All travellers or strangers for the 
most part lodge at the sachem's. When they come they 
tell him how long they will stay and to what place they 



20. 



" * 



This question of the power and authority of the 
sachems was naturally an important one for the early 
settlers, especially in connection with land titles. Thus, 
in the record of the dispute in 1666 between the Towns 
of Southampton and Southold over the ownership of 
some meadow-land, we read as follows : "And the said 
Indians (after long debate) joyntly answered, that ye 
young eagles that were taken in the nests, and the deere 
that were drowned or killed in the water, It was ye 
Indians customs to carry ye said eagles & the skins of 
the Deere to those Sachems or Indians that were ye 
true owners of ye land, thereupon Thomas Stanton [the 
interpreter] presently replyed saying, indeed the eagles 
& the deere were something, but if there were a beare 
killed or drowned, that would put the matter out of con- 
troversie. And the deponent heard Southampton In- 
dians af^rme that there was a beare drowned or killed 
in ye same tract of land now in controversie between 
ye said Townes, then Thomas Stanton asked to whom 
the skin was carried, and Southampton Indians an- 
swered to Shinecock Indians. And Southold Indians 
allsoe acknowledged that ye said beare skin was car- 
ryed to Shenecock Indians by Southold Indians whoe 
tooke ye beare." Tracing the title higher up the inves- 
tigation continues, "I saw Mandush (whoe was a man 
reputed & acknowledged generally by all Indians in 
these parts to be the great Sachem's sonne of Shine- 
cock) cutt up a turf of ground in Southampton, and de- 
livering it to Wyandanch gave up all his right and in- 
terest unto him. And hee the said Mandush with many 
other of the cheifes of Shinecock Indians . . . did 

* Gov. Winslow's Narrative of the Plantations, 1624. 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 23 

manifest their consent ... by their ordinary sign 
of stroking Wyandanch on the back" . . . Man- 
dush also told Wyandanch that "now hee would be all 
one dogge." * This handing over of a piece of turf as 
evidence of delivery of title was used by the settlers, for 
in the Records (Vol. Ill, p. 115) we find the entry of a 
transfer of land "by the delivery unto him at the en- 
sealing hereof one turf and twigg, a part of ye premises 
in Lue of the whole" (May 13, 1746), and again (Vol. 
V, p. 293) "6 acres of land more or less as it is, this 
fenced and delivered by turf and twigge" (Sept. 13, 
1692). 

The natives were described in 1649! as "generally well 
limbed, slender around the waist, broad shouldered; all 
having black hair and brown eyes; they are very nimble 
and swift of pace, well adapted to travel on foot and to 
carry heavy burdens. Generally the men have little or 
i»o beard, some even pluck it out." These physical qual- 
ities the full blooded Indians seem to have retained, for 
those who perished in the wreck of the Circassian, the 
flower of the Shinnecock tribe, were described by those 
in Southampton who remembered them, as being "noble 
looking, strong and tall," and Stephen Talkhouse, a 
Montauk Indian, is said to have walked from Brooklyn 
to Montauk in one day, in 1878. Some years ago, in 
King Pharaoh's time (died 1878) when the Montauk 
Indians used frequently to walk over to Sag Harbor, I 
am told that they would never follow the road, but 
always cut straight through the woods, travelling at a 
good pace. 

As to their character and customs, we read, "they are 
dirty and slovenly in -all their habits . . . they use 
very few words, which they previously well consider. 
N^aturally, they are quite modest, without guile and in- 
experienced, but in their way haughty enough, ready 

* Southampton Town Rec, Vol. I, pp. 157 ff. 
t Remonstrance, supra, p. 281. 



24 MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 

and quick witted to comprehend or learn, be it good 
or bad, whatever they are most inchned to. As sol- 
diers they are far from being honorable, but perfidious 
and accomplish all their designs by treachery; they also 
use many strategems to deceive their enemies and exe- 
cute by night almost all their plans that are in any way 
hazardous. The thirst for revenge is innate in them; 
they are very pertinacious in self-defence, when they 
cannot escape; which under other circumstances they 
like to do, and they make little of death when it is in- 
evitable, and despise all tortures. . . . They abo 
know right well how to cure wounds and hurts, or in- 
veterate sores and injuries by means of herbs and roots 
the men are generally lazy and will not work 
until they become old and of no consideration ; then they 
make spoons and wooden bowls, traps, nets and various 
other such trifles; in other respects they do nothing but 
fish, hunt and go to war. The women must perform the 
remainder of the labor such as planting corn, cutting 
and hauling firewood, cooking, attending the children 
and whatever else has to be done." * 

One custom which is recorded of them, in common 
with many other tribes, is that of taking something 
quite similar to the modern "Turkish Bath." Hot 
stones would be placed in a small hut, or under covering 
of some kind, and over these the Indians would heat 
themselves until the perspiration rolled out of every 
pore, when they would rush out and, even in the coldest 
weather, plunge into the stream or pond near which 
they always placed the hut. 

As to their religion, we read in the "Chronicles of 
East Hampton," that "they were Polytheists and Idol- 
aters. . . . They had gods in great numbers ; many 
of lesser influence having particular charges, and two of 
exalted degree, the good and evil Deity, having a gen- 
eral superintendance and control, as well over all other 

* Doc. Illus. Col. Hist, of N. Y., Vol. I, p. 281. 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 25 

gods as over men. There was a god of the four corners 
of the earth, and the four seasons of the year; another 
of the productions of the earth ; another of the elements ; 
one of the day and night; and a god of the hearth, the 
family and domestic relations. The great, good and 
supreme Deity they called Caulkluntoowut, which sig- 
nifies one possessed of supreme power. The great evil 
spirit was named Mutcheshesumetooh, which signifies 
evil power. They worshipped and offered sacrifices to 
these gods at all times. They had small idols or images 
which they believed knew the will of the gods, and a 
regular Priesthood by whom these idols were consulted. 
The Priests were called Powawas or Powwas, and de- 
clared to the people what the gods required of them; 
when dances and feasts should be made; when presents 
should be given to the old people ; when sacrifices should 
be offered to the gods and of what kind. These Pow- 
was pretended to hold intercourse with the gods, in 
dreams, and with the evil spirit in particular, who ap- 
peared to them under different forms and by voices in 
the air. These were the medicine men. They admin- 
istered to the sick; relieved those affectedwith evil spirits 
and poison, and by incantations and charms, protected 
the people from all harm. Subject to the Powwas' in- 
fluence, neither could fire burn them nor water drown 
them, nor could they receive any injury whatever. 

"The most savory sacrifice made to the great Deity 
was the tail or fin of the whale, which they roasted. 
The leviathan from which it was taken was at times 
found cast upon the sea-shore, and then a great and 
prolonged powaw, or religious festival, was held. At 
these festivals great efforts were suposed to be neces- 
sary to keep the Evil One without the circle of their 
incantations. His presence, it was believed, would de- 
feat the object of the Powwas in the procurement of the 
favor and particular regard of the good deity. Violent 
gesticulations, loud yells, and laborious movements of 



26 MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 

the limbs and body, with distortion of the features, were 
continued until the excitement produced approached to 
madness. When the Evil Spirit was supposed to be sub- 
jugated the dance and the feast commenced. It is 
among the Indian traditions that the existence of the 
Evil Spirit was evidenced by his having, when driven 
from the feast, left the imprint of his foot upon a gran- 
ite rock on Montauk, and made three holes in the 
ground, at regular distances, where he alighted in three 
several leaps from the stone on which he had stood, and 
then disappeared. 

"They believed in a future state of existence; that 
their souls would go westward a great distance, and 
many moons journey to a place where the spirits of all 
would reside and where, in the presence of their great 
Sawwonnuntoh beyond the setting sun, the brave and 
the good would exercise themselves in pleasurable sing- 
ing, in feasting, hunting and dancing forever. The 
coward, the traitor, the liar and the thief was also there, 
but the enjoyments of the favored Sawwonnuntoh only 
added to the pain of the punishments visited upon the 
misdeeds of the wicked. Servile labor, so painful to and 
so much despised by the Indian, was the allotment of 
the sinful. The making a canoe with a round stone 
and the carrying water in a wicker basket, were among 
the perplexing exercises of those who had sacrificed 
the happiness of their future existence to the will of 
Mutcheshesmetooh or the Evil Power." 

In regard to their clothing and ornamentation, I 
quote from an early observer who describes it as fol- 
lows: "The clothing of men as of women consists of a 
piece of dufifels or of deerskin leather or elk hide around 
the body. . . . Some have a bear skin of which 
they make doublets; others again coats of the skins of 
raccoons, wildcats, wolves, dogs, fishers, squirrels, 
beavers and the like; and they even have made them- 
selves some of turkey's feathers . . . they make 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 27 

their stockings and shoes of deerskins or elk hides, some 
even have shoes of corn-husks whereof they also make 
sacks. . . . Their ornaments consists of scoring 
their bodies or painting them of various colors, some- 
times entirely black, if they are in mourning; but 
mostly the face. They twine both white and black 
wampum around their heads ; formerly they were not 
wont to cover these, but now they are beginning to wear 
bonnets or caps . . . they wear wampum in the 
ears, around the neck and around the waist, and thus in 
their way are mighty fine. They have also long deers- 
hair which is dyed red, whereof they make ringlets to 
encircle the head; and other fine hair of the same color, 
which hangs around the neck in braids, whereof they 
are very vain. They frequently smear their skin and 
hair with all sorts of grease." * 

Except in cold weather or when journeying, their 
costume seems frequently to have been far less ample 
than is suggested above, consisting of merely a cloth 
flap in front for the men and nothing at all for the young 
boys or children. 

In the refuse heap at Hogneck, which yielded a rich 
store of Indian articles, Mr. W. W. Tooker of Sag Har- 
bor, who has done so much to add to our knowledge of 
Indian life and language, found fragments of graphite 
and hematite, which bore marks of scraping and scratch- 
mg, and which were used for painting their faces. It 
had previously been unknown in shell heaps, although 
found in the grave mounds of the West. Another rare 
object found by this investigator in 1885 in Seponack 
bluffs, Shinnecock, in connection with Indian personal 
adornment, was an amulet, or tablet, which had formed 
the center ornament, of a string of beads. Carved in 
both sides was an elaboration of the conventional Indian 
pictograph representing a headless human figure, the 
body of a vanquished foe, from which, as Roger Wi!-- 
* Col. Docts., Vol. I, p. 282. 



28 MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 

Hams states the Indian custom to have been, the head 
had been severed by the conqueror. The marks on 
top, i6 in all, indicated the number slain by this savage 
warrior. 

They apparently moved about more or less from place 
to place, but many sites have been located of perma- 
nent villages, several forts, as well as many single wig- 
v/ams. Montauk, which means in Indian "fortified," 
seems to have been a place frequently for refuge rather 
than permanent residence, and there were two forts 
there, one on Fort Hill and one on the Nominick Hills 
near Napeague. The latter is mentioned in the Deed 
of 1661, but nothing marks its site. The former was 
still standing at that date, and Mr. Tooker stated in 
1892 that "the .outlines are visible today and measure 
180 feet on each angle, enclose some 40 Indian graves 
of the last and beginning of this century, while on the 
slopes of the hill are plainly seen many more." * The 
exact site of the old Shinnecock fort is unknown but is 
thought to have been at what was known as "Seponacl: 
old ground," while a later fort stood further to the 
south. The fort on Shelter Island was probably near 
the South Ferry, where are shell mounds and other In- -^ 
dian remains, just across the creek from Sachem's Neck. 
This fort was visited by James Farrett in 1639. There 
was a large fort, a palisadoed enclosure like the others, 
at Cutchogue, which embraced over half an acre, close 
by a spring. 

These forts were made by ramming young trees, 10 
or 12 feet high, into the ground, digging out groun<i 
inside and piling it against the palisade, leaving loop- 
holes for defence. Signal fires were kindled at the forts 
v/hen need demanded, and it is said the four tribes 
could be brought together in a few hours. 

One of the favorite places of residence was the west 

* Lect. before B'klyn Inst. Nov. 21, 1892. B'klyn Daily Eagle 

Nov. 22. 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 29 

side of Three Mile Harbor, where one observer, in 
1633, speaks of seeing "half a hundred" wigwams. What- 
ever their number may have been, they were evidently 
many, and wampum manufacture was carried on there 
extensively as shown by the evidence of shells every- 
where around the site. This village covered over an 
acre of ground and was occupied by Montauks. 

Another extensive village, of Shinnecocks, with many 
graves was at Sag Harbor, and there was still another 
near the spring at the foot of Long Beach, three miles 
west of the harbor on the Noyack Road, while there 
were probably four villages on Shelter Island. There 
was an extensive cemetery near the fort which stood 
about midway between Southampton and Shinnecock 
Hills, mentioned above, and many lodge sites along the 
shore for some miles.* Among other lodge sites which 
ii'ay be noted was one on Doxsee Neck, by Doxsee 
Creek, Mecox Bay, one just west of the head of Sam's 
Creek, one at the head of the Little Pond at Wainscott, 
and evidences of extensive inhabitation around Canoe 
Place. There are some graves on Mr. Charles T. Lud- 
low's place, a burying ground a little southwest of the 
former Inn on Hay Ground Cove, and an Indian well and 
burying ground at Amagansett. But as Mr. Tooker has 
said, "Shell heaps, wigwam sites, and other evidences 
of their footsteps are found near swamps, at springs of 
running water, on the southern slopes of hills, banks 
of ponds, shores of the bays and creeks and in other 
sheltered spots from the eastern extremity of Montauk 
to the western line of Southampton." 

Wherever they abode, the usual traces of their pres- 
ence are the remains of old fires and the shell heaps in 
which are found nearly everything they used, not of 
a perishable character. The rich shell heap at Hogneck 
was described by Mr. Tooker in the lecture from which 
I have already quoted, as follows : "Ashes were plenti- 

* Aboriginal Occupation of New York — W. N. Beauchamp, 1900. 



30 MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 

ful and the shells in some places were packed so dense 
that excavating was laborious. The sand below the de- 
posit showed the effect of fire very plainly. In a space 
of lo feet square, I found five bone needles, many 
notched sinkers, three hammer stones, two sharpening 
stones, some broken celts, a few arrow points, quartz 
and jasper chippings, nearly a peck of pottery fragments, 
a perforated piece of a potstone vessel, three pieces 
of graphite and various other objects. Under all ap- 
peared a hearth of stone covered with charcoal." 

Many fragments of pottery have been found, but as 
yet no perfect vessel. Many years ago, while terracing 
a garden in Sag Harbor, an Indian grave, containing a 
skeleton, was unearthed, and in it Mr. Tooker found 
many fragments of pottery, 184 of which he successfully 
fitted together into the large urn which is now in the 
Brooklyn Institute Museum. Much of this pottery was 
ornamented by "cords, incised lines, by the impression 
of the thumb, by the finger nail, and in other ways.'' 
Clay was also the usual material employed in making 
their pipes, and consequently, although the stems are 
often found, the bowls are rare. Many stone objects of 
all sorts have frequently been found and, though nat- 
urally scarcer than they used to be, arrow heads, 
grooved axes and other implements are still often to 
be picked up in fields and elsewhere. I know of one field 
where four axes have been found this summer. 

Arrow heads were made of many materials, but the 
most common one was quartz, which is present in great 
abundance in the form of pebbles and is easily worked. 
Spear points were sometimes made of the same ma- 
terial but were usually of steatite, which is very friable 
and easily broken. Frequently, also, they were made 
of jasper. They sometimes occur in deposits of several 
and in a little gully washed by the rain in the Shinne- 
cock Hills, Mr. Tooker once found ten in the same spot. 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 31 

They are, however, very scarce compared with the ar- 
row points. 

Among other stone implements which are occasion- 
ally found are celts or chisels, skinning knives, adzes 
grooved and ungrooved, notched net sinkers, the stones 
on which wampum shells were rubbed to round them, 
ceremonial stones, pestles, mortars, etc. The holes in 
the ceremonial stones were drilled by the use of a hol- 
low reed, sand and water. Large mortars were usually 
made of wood, generally of the pepperidge tree, which 
is noted for its toughness and freedom from splitting. 
Live coals were used to burn out the hollows, which 
were thus made by charring and scraping. The large 
stone pestles were customarily used in these big wooden 
mortars, which are excessively rare. The smaller stone 
corn mills or herb mortars are more common and fre- 
quently of excellent workmanship. Mr. W. D. Halsey, 
in his interesting local collection, has a very good one 
found at the head of Sagg Pond. 

Mention must also be made of the remarkable black- 
oak paddle found some years ago buried in the mud at 
Canoe Place by Mr. Charles Conkling, now in the Took- 
er collection. This was made with stone tools and the 
use of fire, and is said to have been the only one found 
in America. Copper articles are very rare, and when 
found, like those of potstone or steatite, indicate trading 
with the mainland. 

The most noted product of their craftsmanship in the 
early days was, of course, the wampum, for which the 
east end of Long Island was famous, and which prob- 
ably supplied the motive of the Pequots in conquering 
and subjecting to tribute these expert wampum mak- 
ers who dwelt where the shells used in its manufacture 
were unusually abundant. This wampum, as everv 
schoolboy knows, was the money of the Indians, and 
as a convenient medium of exchange, both with the 
Indians and among themselves, was adopted by the 



32 MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 

colonists almost everywhere. Thus, among many other 
items, we read in the Town Records, Jan. 17, 1661, in 
the report of a lawsuit over that prolific source of trou- 
ble, a horse, that Mrs. Scott is to pay "20 shillings in 
Vv^ampum and Geo. Miller is to keepe the horse." * It 
was of two kinds, white and black (really more of a blue 
or purple), the former made from the periwinkle shell 
of the species F. Canaliculata and F. Carica, and the 
latter from the shell of the round clam, Venus Mercenaria. 
While the exchange value of wampum in English 
TVioney varied somewhat, according to both time and 
locality, the black seems to have always been worth 
about double the white. The beads were made by chip- 
ping the shell down to about the proper size, then drill- 
ing a hole in it and rubbing it on the stones mentioned 
above to round and smooth it. So well was this done 
that counterfeiting was impossible. The black beads 
were about the size of a straw, bored lengthwise, and 
about 1/3 of an inch long. In 1673, three of them 
passed for a penny as did six of the white. They were 
strung on strings of sinew and were also quoted at so 
many shillings a fathom. They were used as ornaments 
as well as money, just as gold is today, and the coats of 
the chiefs were sometimes adorned with them, while 
belts made of them came to have a ceremonial mean- 
ing, t 

The food of the natives consisted of wild edible nuts 
and roots, fish, game, and their cultivated crops, mainly 
of Indian corn. Of ground nuts they seem to have been 
very fond, and from the name of one of them, called bv 
the Indians sagabon is derived the name Sagaponack, 
"the place where the big ground nuts grow." In culti- 
vating their crops of corn they seem to have exercised 

* Town Records, Vol. II, p. 17. 

t Two of the Indian names for Long Island call to mind the 
industry, viz: Mattenwake (in many spellings) — "land of the peri- 
winkle," and Seawanhacky (also many spellings) — "the seawan 
country," seawan being one of the names for wampum. 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 33 

a considerable amount of care, hoeing with clam shells, 
manuring the hills with fish, and keeping the ground so 
free from weeds and so well cultivated as to call forth 
the admiration of more than one white observer. 

As to fish, they used, of course, all the shell fish of 
various kinds, but in addition were expert fishermen 
with hook and line, the hooks being made of carved bone 
and the lines of hemp. Crabbing they practised by 
tying a piece of meat to a string, letting the crab take 
hold and then hauling him out. They also used seines 
and set-nets, as well as shooting the fish with long ar- 
rows tied with a line. Although fish thus formed a 
large part of their diet, they had not learned how to salt 
it. They seem to have been extraordinarily fond of the 
tails and fins of whales, as will be noted elsewhere, and 
the retention by them of these delicacies forms a part 
of many contracts with the whites, and even deeds. 

Mr. M. R. Harrington in his brief article on the Shin- 
necocks * states that wigwams were distinctly remem- 
bered by all the old people on the reservation, by whom 
they were described as follows : "Poles were bent into 
intersecting arches until a dome-shaped frame was made 
from lo to 20 feet in diameter. After all the poles had 
been tied firmly together, and horizontal strips put in 
place, the whole was thatched with a species of grass 
called 'blue vent,' put on in overlapping rows, and 
sewed fast to the strips. When the top was reached, a 
hole was left open for the escape of smoke, and the 
edges of the aperture plastered with clay to prevent the 
thatch from catching fire. The ground plan was circular 
or oval, sometimes divided into rooms by partitions of 
wattle work and thatch. The door frame was an arched 
pole, the door of wood or sometimes merely a curtain 
cf skins and mats. An elevated bench or couch of poles 
generally encircled the interior, beneath which the 
goods were stored. In at least one case, at a place where 
* Journ. of Am. Folk Lore, Jan.-Mar., 1903. 



34 MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 

poles were difficult to procure, the floor was dug out in 
the middle so as to leave a shelf around the wall which 
answered the purpose of bed, seat, and table. The fire- 
place was in the centre. Even today out-door store- 
houses are made by digging a hole and covering it with 
a roof of poles and thatch." The last wigwam, however, 
disappeared from the Reservation in 1850. 

The out-door storehouses mentioned, which were 
lined with bark and called "Indian barns," became a sub- 
ject of legislation on the part of the colonists on account 
of their cattle stepping into these concealed holes. Thus 
in the Town Records, under date April 6, 1641, * "yt is 
ordered that any person whatsoever hath Lott or Lotts 
upon Shinecock playne in the which there are any In- 
dian Barnes or welles lyeing open whereby cattle have 
or may take hurte or harme, the owner or overseers of 
such Lotts shall fill up all such Barnes and welles." The 
wells were made by driving hollow trunks of pepperidge 
trees into the ground. The out-door store house was 
adopted by the settlers who for long buried dried fruits 
or vegetables in such pits for winter use. 

The Indian canoes were also made of tree trunks hol- 
lowed out, and some of them were very large, though 
Governor Winthrop's statement in his Journal in 1633 f 
that the Indians of eastern Long Island "have many 
canoes so great as one will carry eighty men" seems 
incredible, unless of wholly dift'erent construction. As 
there was frequent intercourse between Long Island 
and the Connecticut shore on the part of the Indians, 
it is possible that they had invented a more seaworthy 
type of vessel, but, if so, I have found neither record nor 
tradition indicating it. 

The relations with the white settlers were, on the 
whole, markedly peaceful, in striking contrast with con- 
ditions in almost every other part of the colonies, and 

* Town Records, Vol. I, p. 22. 

t Hist, of New England, Winthrop, Vol. I, p. 134. 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 35 

redounds greatly to the wisdom and justice of the 
founders of the Town. These relations will be men- 
tioned from time to time in the course of the narrative, 
and it remains here but to glance at the end of the story. 

Wherever the white man has come into contact with 
the Indians, the latter have rapidly disappeared. Nor, 
although no American can be proud of his country's re- 
lations with these aboriginal occupiers of the soil, has 
this been due entirely to the white man. The Indians 
as a race seem to be unable to assimilate the white man's 
civilization, just as physically the two races cannot mix, 
the union proving sterile, I understand, beyond the 
second generation. The scope of this book does not 
permit of a general discussion of this topic, but a care- 
ful study of the entire history of the relations between 
the Indians and the settlers of this place has convinced 
me that here, at least, the Indians were almost invari- 
ably treated with kindness and justice and their lament- 
able end is not due to oppression by the whites. 

But even here the story is a sad one. A century ago 
there was a Montauk Indian named Josiah Beman, who 
preached the doctrine of Universal Salvation, and who 
is said to have composed his own epitaph as follows : 
''Here Josiah Beman lies, 
And nobody laughs and nobody cries; 
Where he's gone and how he fares. 
Nobody knows and nobody cares." 

This is the epitaph which the Indian race may well 
have written for itself, eves where, as a whole, it got 
on more peaceably and happily with the settlers than 
elsewhere. 

In the Indian Deed of 1703 there was reserved to the 
Indian certain privileges of planting, etc., by a lease to 
them of the Shinnecock tract, including the Hills, for 
1,000 years. By an Act of the Legislature, March 15, 
1859, the Indians were authorized to, and did, give their 
lease in exchange for the ownership in fee of Shinnecock 



36 MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 

Neck, which is the present Reservation. They are not 
subject to taxation, do not possess the franchise, own 
their lands in common and elect three trustees annually. 

Of the above Reservation, which is just west of 
Southampton, an observer said in 1903 that it seemed at 
first glance to be "a negro settlement pure and simple." 
In 1892 the late Rev. George R. Howell, in a letter to 
the "Indian Advocate" (March 1892), said: "Today it 
is believed that but one man of pure Indian blood sur- 
vives among them. His name is Walker, formerly 
Walkus. There may be some pure-blooded Indian 
women left still living, but the Bunn family were of 
mixed blood, and William Bunn was much darker than 
an Indian, and never was a man of as great influence in 
the community as his brother or kinsman, David Bunn, 
who was often spoken of as 'King' David." In 1827 
New York began freeing her slaves, and as those in and 
around Southampton were freed, as well probably as 
many of those voluntarily freed by their owners earlier, 
they were offered homes by the Indians, and many set- 
tled among them. 

The article by M. R. Harrington, previously quoted, 
states that, in 1903, "a few of the men are typically In- 
dian. Of these, Wickham Cufifee is the best example. 
He is Indian in color and feature, and claims to be full 
blooded, but the slight curl in his hair seems to point to 
some admixture. . . . Andrew CufTee, the blind ex- 
whaler, also presents many Indian characteristics, while 
Charles Bunn (with a slight tinge of negro) and John 
Thompson (part white) are good types. Very few of 
the young men show Indian characteristics. A num- 
ber of the women are pure or nearly pure blooded In- 
dians. Among them are Mary Brewer (died Dec. 6, 
1902), Mary Ann Cuffee, and Mrs. Waters." The pre- 
ponderance of women over men he accounted for by the 
drowning of the finest male members of the tribe in the 
Vv'reck of the Circassian. (See Chapter on Wrecks.) 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 37 

He further states that "many of the survivors, espe- 
cially the younger ones, have left the Reservation and 
are now scattered abroad. The only Indian children 
seen during my entire stay were visitors from Shinne- 
cock families settled elsewhere." 

The Montauks have dwindled even more, and as early 
as 1845 Prime, in his History of Long Island, stated 
that there were but three families left comprising eight 
or nine individuals. In Lippincott's Magazine for No- 
vember, 1878, there was an article by J. J. Young, from 
which I quote the following: "In 1819 'King' Stephen 
died and was buried by subscription. His distinctive 
badge consisted of a yellow ribbon round his hat. After 
him others reigned, and although the royal family long 
ago became extinct, the name of king or chief is still 
retained. The late holder of the title was David Faro 
[Pharaoh], and he reigned over two families, his own 
and the Fowlers. . . . The late chief left a widow 
and five children. The oldest is a boy named Wyan- 
danch, who occasionally visits the few houses on the 
peninsula selling berries. The Queen's mother and the 
rest of the tribe are basket makers. The second of 
David's children is Maggie Arabella, a pleasant faced 
girl with thick set figure ; the third and fourth are 
bright-eyed boys, Samuel Powhattan and Ebenezer 
Tecumseh, and the fifth is a child about six months, 
Sarah Pocahontas. Besides these, there are the present 
'King' Stephen and his son Samuel, 'King' Sylvester 
preceded David. . . . Ephraim Fowler, a son of 
Sylvester, also survives. Of the whole family of Fow- 
lers, there are the husband and wife and their four 
children, three sons and a daughter. Such so far as I 
know is a complete census of the tribe of Montaukett." 

I do not myself think it quite, although perhaps 
almost, complete, for there were, I am told, some re- 
mains of a family named Talkhouse, of whom one, the 



."SS MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 

pedestrian, has already been mentioned. I am also told 
that he became "King." 

The Montauk Indians in the last century used often 
to walk to Sag Harbor, and of the stories I have heard 
of them there, all end in "fire water." I give one of 
these here, a rather extraordinary picture of about 1850 
penned by Mr. Oliver R. Wade in a paper on his recol- 
lections as a boy, read before the Sag Harbor Historical 
Society in 1908. 

"Who recalls Jason Hoopete, the old Montauk In- 
dian? Far down the street would come the shrill cry 
cf the boys — 'Here comes Jason !' Tall and swarthy, 
with his long hair floating in the wind, came Jason, and 
all the boys fled to their yards and shuddered as he 
passed. In our childish minds, an Indian was only a 
savage in suspense, and liable at any time to revert to 
barbarism. When he reached Cooper's shop, he was 
greeted with great heartiness. The axes and adzes 
were laid aside, and then came the wild barbaric dance 
of the coopers, with Jason as the central figure. The 
music was the rhythmic clatter of the wooden truss hoop 
driver, a piece of wood two feet long, held in the center, 
and as the cooper drove the truss, he clattered the ends 
on the staves, which gave a roaring cadence. How 
they danced and shrieked. The windows were crowded 
with the faces of the boys who had seen the dance be- 
fore and never wanted to miss one. The dance over, the 
men wiped their sweating faces and arms, shook hands 
Vi'ith Jason, who came out and took his way to Smith's 
on the Dock, where 'fire-water' was to be had and a vast 
longing to be appeased." 

Of the Shinnecock Tribe two members should be 
mentioned here. One was Peter John, born in Hay 
Ground, in the Parish of Bridgehampton, about 1712-15, 
who was converted in the great revival of 1741-4 and 
became a Minister of the Gospel. He gathered churches 
at Wading River, Poosepatuck, Islip and Canoe Place, 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 39 

at the second of which he was buried, dying at the age 
of about 88. He owned property and Hved at St. 
George's Manor, and, though unlearned, seems to have 
been pious and zealous. 

His grandson, Paul Cuffee, was born at Brookhaven 
jMarch 4, 1757, and also became a minister, laboring 
mainly among the Indians of Montauk and Canoe Place. 
He is buried one mile west of the latter place at the 
junction of the north and south roads, where the In- 
dian church stood, and where his grave is marked by a 
stone erected by the New York Missionary Society. 
He died March 7, 1812, and Prime, who knew him per- 
sonally, wrote of him, "he was an interesting and af- 
fectionate preacher. Though he aimed at no elegance 
of diction, and frequently committed grammatical in- 
accuracies, these were soon lost sight of in the ardour 
of his piety, and the pathos of his appeals. 
Naturally modest and graciously lowly in heart, he 
never aspired to high things but always condescended to 
men of low estate." 

Of the records of the Indians, save for a few stones 
and other implements in collections, little remains but 
their legacy to us of the names of places. 

Sagaponack — Meaning "the place where the big 
ground nuts grow," and Montauk, "the fortified place," 
as well as the word "Seapoose" have already been 
alluded to. I here take the liberty of giving a few more 
from Mr. Tooker's work on the "Indian Place Names 
on Long Island." 

Agawam — Low, flat meadows. 

Amagansett — Indian well plain (from the well there), 
there). 

Cobb — A corruption of Cobb's Pound, probably 
named from the keeper of the pound there, not neces- 
sarily Indian at all. 



40 MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 

Kellis Pond — Prime states this to have been the 
name of an Indian who hved there. This is an error, 
the name being derived from John Kelly, who was early 
allotted land there. 

Meacox — After considering various explanations 
Mr. Tooker says, "I believe it to be of Indian origin, and 
a survival of the name of one of the signers of the South- 
ampton Indian Deed of December 13, 1640, where 
it appears as Secommecock — Secom-mecock — Mecock. 
With the mark of the English possessive, as it often 
occurs, we have Mecock's," 

Poxabog — "A pond that opens out, or widens, 
which this pond frequently does." 

Sachem's Hole — "A locality formerly existing near 
the fourth mile stone from Sag Harbor, now oblit- 
erated by the turnpike to East Hampton, where the 
bearers of the body of the Sachem of Shelter Id. rested 
in 1651." Prime wrote of this in 1845, " ^ small excava- 
tion was made to designate the spot [12 inches deep, iS 
inches in diameter]. From that time to the present, more 
than 190 years, this memorial has remained, as fresh 
seemingly, as if lately made. . . . The Montauk 
Tribe, though reduced to a beggarly number of some 
ten or fifteen drunken and degraded beings, have re- 
tained to this day the memory of the event; and no in- 
dividual . . . passes the spot, without removing 
whatever may have fallen into it." 

Wickapogue — "The end of the pond or water." 

Wainscott — Although not of Indian origin, though 
* often supposed to be, I shall quote Mr. Tooker's 
explanation of its derivation, "The pond took its name 
from an ancient method of preparing 'Wainscot (oaken 
timber or boarding)' of which Josselyn gives an ac- 
count in his second voyage to New England 1673, P- ^i, 
'the ordering of red-oake for Wainscot, when they have 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 41 

cut it down and clear'd it from the branches, they pitch 
the body of the tree in a muddy place in a river, with the 
head downward for sometime; afterwards they draw 
it out; and when it is seasoned sufficiently they saw it 
into boards for Wainscot, and it will branch out into 
curious works. Wainscot was an article of export from 
a very early period.' " 



CHAPTER III 

SETTLEMENT BY THE ENGLISH * 

From the first settlement of Plymouth in 1620 to 
the year of the meeting of the Long Parliament in 1640, 
the tide of immigration had flowed steadily into New 
England, about 4,000. families, numbering about 21,000 
individuals, having reached its shores in the first two 
decades. At that precise date, however, immigration 
ceased, and in fact the tide turned the other way due to 
the altered prospects of aiifairs in England, events there, 
as Governor Winthrop said, "Causing all men to stay 
in expectation of a new world." f 

All of the towns on the east end of Long Island were, 
therefore, settled, not from the Mother Country, but 
from colonies already placed in the new. It is not 
always easy to understand why small villages or towns, 
hardly established, faced by the wilderness and hostile 
foe, should have so frequently sent off colonies of their 
own, to the weakening of their numbers, wealth and 
power, but it was a common characteristic of the times, 

* I here call the reader's attention to the fact that all dates in 
the Records prior to the change in the Calendar are "old style," 
and I have thus quoted them without change so as to make my 
references agree with the Printed Records to which they refer. 

t "The Parliament of England setting upon a general reforma- 
tion both of Church and State, the Earl of Strafford being be- 
headed and the archbishop (our great enemy) and many others of 
the great officers and judges, bishops and others, imprisoned and 
called to account, this caused all men to stay in England in ex- 
pectation of a new world, so as few coming to us, all foreign com- 
modities grew scarce and our own of no price." Hist, of New 
England, Winthrop, ed. 1853, Vol. H, p. 37. 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 43 

?nd undoubtedly many mixed motives, beside the land 
question, operated to bring about these secondary 
swarmings. 

In the first ten years of its existence, as many as six 
other towns had been settled by small groups emigrat- 
ing from the little town of Lynn, Mass., and in 1640 
another group of individuals, "finding themselves strait- 
ened," left for Long Island, and founded our town of 
Southampton. That these successive departures of 
bands of colonists greatly weakened the original town 
of Lynn is shown by the petition of the remaining inhab- 
itants of that place in 1645 ^^^ ^" abatement of taxes on 
account of their decreased numbers and wealth. 

Those who left the older settlements to found new 
were picked and experienced men. * They had not 
come directly from old England or the Continent. They 
had tasted frontier life, and they knew what awaited 
those who would push further into the wilderness for 
greater freedom or for larger lands. Among them, as 
among the other 21,000 inhabitants of New England, 
there were representatives of many types — adventurers, 
lovers of God, lovers of civil liberty, the inborn pioneer, 
the dreamers of dreams and the founders of states. But 
one trait they had in common, experience born of knowl- 
edge. They had seen success and failure in other col- 
onising efforts, they knew the need of unity, of leader- 
ship, of law. In studying the entire history of the settle- 
ment from the first agreement in regard to the vessel 
which was to convey them and their goods, to the last 
entry in the Town Records, one is above all impressed 
witii their extraordinary ability in the art of self-govern- 
ment. Petty lawsuits among themselves there are 
c, -plenty, the stocks and the jail are not always idle, but 
here we find no quarrel which ever seriously threatens 

* Of those who came here, Thompson says : "They were generally 
of a superior class and of greater intelligence than some who came 
subsequently to other towns, being respectable both in character 
and education." Hist, of L. I., Vol. I, p. 329. 



44 MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 

the unity or stability of their government, no long ap- 
peals for help to any powers across the sea. All during 
their early years, ruled by no Parliament, governed by 
no Charter, owners of their own land, independent of 
all other earthly authority, they ruled themselves, they 
founded a state. 

The original founders, or "undertakers" as they were 
called, were eight in number, — Edward Howell, Ed- 
mund Farrington, Josias Stanborough, George Welbe, 
Job Sayre, Edmund Needham, Henry Walton and Dan- 
iel How. Before the colony left Lynn, there were added 
as additional "undertakers" John Cooper, Allen Bread, 
William Harker, Thomas Halsey, Thomas Newell, John 
Farrington, Richard Odell, Philip Kyrtland, Thomas 
Farrington and Thomas Terry. All of these did not re- 
main permanently in the colony, however, nor did all 
come over to it immediately. Thomas Newell probably 
never came, Allen Bread probably did not remain over 
a year, nor did William Harker, George Welbe nor Ed- 
mund Needham. Henry Walton in a year or so re- 
moved to Boston, Thomas Terry to Southold, Philip 
Kyrtland to Massachusetts before 1644, and Daniel 
How was one of the founders of East Hampton in 
1649. * Josiah Stanborough, with whom we shall have 
much to do as one of the founders of Sagg, did not come 
over until 1643, ^^^ ^ ^"^ him mentioned in connection 
with law suits in the "Records and Files of the Quar- 
terly Courts of Essex County, Mass.," in 1640, 1642, and 
1643, i" December of which latter year he is spoken of 
as "gone out of the country and Patent." (Vol. I.) 
The most important member of the company of under- 
takers and father of the new colony was Edward 
Howell. He had been one of the four largest land 
owners in Lynn, where in the list of lands granted in 
1638, he is credited with 500 acres, and in the complaint 
of the inhabitants of that town in 1645, above referred 

* See notes by G. R. Howell, Town Records, Vol. I, p. 8. 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 45 

to, he is especially mentioned as being greatly missed 
on the tax rolls. * He came from Buckinghamshire, 
England, where he owned the Manor of Wesbury, at 
Marsh Gibbon, which he sold in 1639. A gentleman by 
family, a man of age, substance and experience, his hand 
is ever found guiding the destinies of the young settle- 
ment. 

The formation of the above named undertakers into 
a company to plant the colony, the sale of their ship, and 
sundry regulations for the new community to be, are 
all clearly witnessed by two documents, called "The Dis- 
posall of the Vessell" and "A Declaration of the Com- 
pany." The first is dated March 10, 1639 [1640 nev/ 
style], t is in several sections, and is signed by nineteen 
of the undertakers, some of whom were taken into part- 
nership in the company between the penning of the vari- 
ous sections. This agreement states that the vessel 
owned by the undertakers has been disposed of to Dan- 
iell How in consideration of which he is to transport 
them and their goods to the new colony under certain 
terms, and that likewise "this vessell shall be for the use 
of the Plantacon, and that the said Daniell shall not sell 
this vessell without the consent of the Maior pt. of the 
Company, and that the vessell shall be ready at the 
Towne of Lynne to transporte such goods as the afore- 
said undertakers shall appointe, that is to say, three 
tymes in the yeare . . . viz : the first moneth, the 



* The list of land allotted so far 


as it relates to the colonists of 


Southampton was as follows: (acres) 


Mr. Edward Howell 


500 


Thomas Sayre 60 


John Cooper 


200 


Christopher Foster 60 


Allen Bread 


200 


Thomas Newhall 30 


Edmund Farrington 


200 


[Wm.] Harcher 20 


Josias Stanbury 


100 


Philip Kirtland sen. 10 


Thomas Halsye 


100 


Philip Kirtland jun. 10 


Job Sayre 


60 


George Welbye — 



Daniel Howe, upland and meadow, 60. 
Hist, of Lynn, A. Lewis, 1844, pp. 103-5. 

t In old style the year began Mar. 25 instead of Jan. 1, so until 
1751 a year must be added to dates from Jan. 1 to Mar. 25, as well 
as an additional minor adjustment of days. 



46 MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTOM 

fourth moneth and the eighth moneth." In case of any 
dispute over rates arbitration is provided for. And fur- 
ther it is stated that "wee have taken upon us to trans- 
porte at our owne prop, costs and charges all such per- 
sons as shall goe at the first voyage when those of our 
company that are chosen thereunto shall go upon dis- 
covery and search and to beginne and settle a plantacon 
fifurthermore because the delaying to lay out 
the boundes of townes and all such land within the said 
boundes hath generally been the ruin of townes in this 
country, therefore we the said undertakers have thought 
good to take upon us to dispose of all lands within our 
said boundes soe yt wch wee lay out for a house Lott 
shall at all tymes from tyme to tyme hereafter continue 
lo be a house Lott and but one dwelling shall be builded 
upon it, and those lotts yt wee lay out for planting lotts 
shall not at any tyme nor tymes hereafter be made house 
lotts whereby more Inhabitants might be received into 
our said Plantacon to the overchargeing of Commons 
and the Impoverishinge of the Towne, and yt, alsoe 
what is layed out for commons shall continue commons 
and no man shall presume to Incroach upon it not so 
much as a handes breadth 

It proceeds to provide for the felling of trees in high- 
vv^ays, and against trespass on others' lands "for as is the 
lande so shall ye Aptnances bee every mans owne pe- 
culiar property." Payments of taxes, etc., are provided 
for by the inhabitants as may "hereafter be thought 
mete proportionably to what they Inioy. . . ." And, 
lastly, that "wee without any kinde of reservation, leave 
men fifree to choose and determine all causes and con- 
troverseys, arbitrary among themselves, and that when- 
soever it shall please the lord, and he shall see goode to 
adde to us such men as shall be fitt matter for a church, 
that then we will in that thinge lay ourselves downe 
before ye constitutes thereof either to be or not to be 
receaved as members thereof according as they shall 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 47 

discerne the work of god to be in our hearts." The 
"Declaration of the Company," signed "ye 4th day of ye 
4th — , 16 — " [mutilated] is explanatory of certain 
clauses in the above. 

From the foregoing, we see that by March 10, 1640, 
a company had been formed for the purpose of estab- 
lishing a permanent settlement; a vessel purchased and 
regular sailings provided for; arrangements made for a 
selected group to search for a site and start the settle- 
ment; the laying out of land, terms of ownership and 
taxation agreed upon, and self government, with polit- 
ical and religious liberty guaranteed. It remained to find 
a location, secure the right to remain there and plant 
the colony. These further steps we still follow by the 
contemporary documents. 

On the 17th of April, 1640, James Farrett, who was 
attorney for the Earl of Sterling, to whom Long Island 
had been granted by King Charles, gives a deed to 
"Danyell How, Job Sayre, George Welbe, and William 
Marker, together with their associates to sitt downe 
upon Long Island aforesaid, there to possess, Improve 
and enjoy eight miles square of land . . . and that 
they are to take their choyce to sitt downe upon as best 
suiteth them . . . only the aforesaid inhabitants 
shall make purchase in their own names and at 
their own leisure from any Indians that Inhabit or have 
lawful right to any of the aforesaid land" and "that he 
doth by these presents fully release all claime and In 
terest in the land above mentioned or persons that shall 
sitt down upon it with all title to government whether in 
church or Commonwealth." In lieu of all other rents, 
etc., it was determined by Governor Winthrop, to whom 
the matter was left, that the settlers should pay to the 
Earl or his heirs "foure bushells of the best Indian 
corne there growing." 

Thus the next step was taken and the company now 
had an option on any eight miles square they chose to 



48 MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 

take up, provided they satisfied the Indian owners. It 
remained now to find a place that should suit them, and 
this step is recorded for us in the Dutch records of New 
Amsterdam, for we find it stated therein, by the Direc- 
tor and Council May 13, 1640 * that the Sachem Pen- 
hawits "after some foreign nation had settled on the 
aforesaid lands about Schouts bay, has notified us that 
some interlopers or vagabonds have come on the lands 
which we have purchased from him, and have begun to 
build houses, cut down trees, and to perform other work, 
and that said vagabonds have cut down the arms of 
Their High Mightinesses . . . and in the place 
where the said Arms had been nailed to a tree, a Fool's 
head had been carved." They therefore despatched 
their Secretary, Cornells von Tienhoven, with a sergeant 
and twenty-three soldiers and the following heroic in- 
structions, to settle the matter: "You shall endeavor to 
arrive there unawares; in our opinion it will be best at 
break of day and there surround the English and pre- 
vent any recourse being had to force of arms ; and forth- 
with inquire who removed the Arms, and demand of 
them who authorized them so to do, and oblige them to 
come hither to vindicate themselves. If they refuse 
you shall employ force. . . . If it should happen 
that the English have been reinforced by so many 
new comers that you shall not be strong enough for 
them, you shall make an emphatic protest against them, 
then sign it and come back." 

On the 14th, the 25 Dutch soldiers captured the Eng- 
lish company, consisting of eight men, one woman and 
one child, who were found to have built one house and 
were then engaged in building another. Six men were 
taken to the Fort and were examined on the i6th. These 
were Job Sayre, who gave his age as 28 years, George 
Welbe, 25; John Farrington, 24; Philip Kirtland, 26; 
Nathaniel Kirtland, 22, and William Harker, 24. On 

* See Docts., Rel. to Col. Hist, of N. Y.rVol. XIV, pp. Ji8-30. 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 49 

examination they stated that they had come from Lynn, 
Mass. ; that they had been brought to Schouts Bay by 
Lieut. Daniel How with Mr. Farrett's permission; that 
they had come "to plant and make a plantation"; that 
"it was intended that twenty families should come, and 
if the land was good they expected a great many peo- 
ple"; that they did not know it was "States" land; that 
Mr. Farrett or Lieutenant How had cut down the arms, 
that they were now at New Haven and that they did 
not know who had carved the fool's face. On the 19th 
the Council resolved they were not guilty and set them 
free, they promising in writing to immediately depart 
from their settlement and not return. * 

Thus ended the first effort to find a suitable location. 
It was now the 19th of May, and if anything were to be 
done that year to settle and plant, it must be accom- 
plished quickly. The first thing to be done, however, 
was to leave Schout's Bay, probably send a report and 
complaint to Farrett, who as we have seen was at New 
Haven, and find a new settlement themselves further 
east in undisputed territory. All these things were evi- 
dently done, for on June 12, 1640, James Farrett, as 
attorney for the Earl "as it doth concerne myself in 
consideration of Barge Hire besides they being drove off 
by the Dutch from the place where they were by me 
planted to their great damage, by and with a compe- 
tent summe of money in hand paid before the sealing 
and delivering of these presents all amounting unto four 
hundred pounds sterling" confirms to them "all those 
lands lying and being bounded between Peconeck and 
the easternmost point of Long Island with the whole 
breadth of the said Island from sea to sea . . . ex- 
cepting those lands already granted unto any person by 
me." (He himself owned Robbin's Island and Shelter 
Island and had granted Gardiner's Island to Lion Gar- 

* The full testimony is priven in Docts., Rel. to Col. Hist., Vol, II, 
pp. 145-150. 



50 MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 

diner.) This deed was confirmed by Lord Sterling in 
another document dated August 20, 1640. 

It is evident, therefore, that, by the earher date, they 
had complained to Farrett of being misled by him, had 
found a new and permanent location, had paid for the 
land, and received the deed defining their boundaries. 
These were limited later in the Confirmation of July 7, 
1640, as it had been found that they included more than 
the eight miles square, the new bounds being Canoe 
Place on the west and approximately the present East 
Hampton line on the east. These important matters 
out of the way, and with so much to be done to establish 
the colony and assure their harvests, the final step, viz : 
the securing of the written deed from the Indians, could 
well wait, although a verbal agreement was undoubtedly 
arrived at as soon as the settlers had established to their 
own satisfaction what Indians really had the title to the, 
land, a point in itself which it might have taken them 
some little time to make sure of. 

On the 13th of December, 1640, however, the deed 
was given by the Indians and the Company's title com- 
plete. I think the documents and the logical deductions 
from them leave no room to doubt continued residence 
at Southampton from early in June of 1640. 

It has already been stated that the Indians at this end 
of the Island were in subjection, and under tribute to 
the fierce Pequots in Connecticut, and were liable to 
raids from their savage overlords. We find, accordingly, 
.n the Indian deed, in addition to the price of "sixteene 
coats already received and alsoe three score bushells of 
Indian corne," that one of the considerations in the 
transfer of the land is that the "English shall defend us 
the sayed Indians from the unjust violence of whatever 
Indians shall illegally assaill us." On this friendly basis 
began the relations between the two races, and in 
spite of some disputes and the need of constant vigilance 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMFTON 51 

on the part of the whites, they so continued throughout 
the entire history of the town. 

The colonists had reached their new home by way of 
Peconic Bay, landing at North Sea and crossing the few 
miles of woodland which separated them from the site 
of the new settlement which they established at what 
is now called "Old Town," about three-quarters of a 
mile east of the present Main Street. The point on 
Mhich tradition says they landed has ever borne the 
name of "Conscience Point," said to have been due to 
the remark of one of the women on landing — "For con- 
science' sake, I'm on dry land once more." 

The scope of this work does not permit a detailed 
history of the affairs of Southampton Village, and the 
affairs of Southampton Town are recorded only in so 
fi.r as they have a direct bearing on Bridgehampton. 
The form of government and the manners and customs 
cf the early settlers will be touched upon in a later chap- 
ter, and it remains here only lightly to sketch in the 
story of the Town's relations to other Governments and 
the remaining documents in connection with the title 
to their lands. 

In 1643 w^s formed the New England Confederacy, 
under the name of "The United Colonies of New Eng- 
land," binding together Massachusetts, Plymouth, New 
Haven, and Connecticut, as well as their dependencies, 
in a league for their mutual protection and welfare. The 
circumstances of the time pointed clearly to the advan- 
tages of such a union for the limited purposes defined 
by the articles, and on March 7th, 1644, we find in the 
Town Records (Vol. I, p. 31) "yt was voted and con- 
sented unto by the Generall Court that the Towne of 
Southampton shall enter into combination with the Jur- 
isdiction of Connecticutt," and again (Vol. I, p. 136), 
June 20, 1657, "At a town meeting it was voted and con- 
cluded by the maior part, to accept of and receave all 
the lawes of the Jurisdiction of Connecticut, not cross- 



52 MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 

ing nor contradicting the limitations of our combina- 
tions bearing date May 30, 1645." I* *s a noteworthy 
fact that they united themselves with Connecticut and 
not with New Haven, for in the former the rights of 
freemen were open to all, and in the latter only to 
church members. The settlers of Southampton had 
organized a church in their first year and built an edi- 
fice in their second, the Rev. Abraham Pierson being 
the first pastor. Greatly, however, as he was respected 
by his flock, both were uncompromising in their atti- 
tudes on this question of the relation of church and 
state, and when political freedom won the day and the 
citizens chose union with Connecticut, Mr. Pierson soon 
after removed, going to Branford, in the New Haven 
colony, in 1647. 

By the agreement with Connecticut, it was provided 
"by reson of ther passage by sea being under more dif- 
ficulties and uncertainties" that two Magistrates should 
be chosen annually in Southampton who should have 
the same power as the "Prticular Courts" in Connecti- 
cut, except in cases of life and limb which were always 
to be tried in Connecticut. Provisions were also made 
for the method of election of three Magistrates by the 
freemen of the Town, of whom two would be chosen by 
Connecticut to act as a Court as above, and also for ap- 
peals from that Court to the General Court of Connecti- 
cut. It was further agreed that all expenses for fortifica- 
tions, etc., as were of use to the two colonies separately 
should be met separately, but that each was to bear an 
equal share, in proportion to their respective number of 
males between the ages of 16 and 60, in such matters 
as were of "mutual and common concernment." * 

The closest sort of relations were thus being estab- 
lished with the neighboring English colony on the main- 

* These are recorded in Trumbull's Col. Records of Conn., Vol. I. 
As I have not had access to that work, I have used the quotations 
in Howell's Southampton, p. 51. 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMFTON 53 

land. English themselves, emigrants from a New Eng- 
land colony, they would naturally have turned to their 
kinsmen, men of the same blood and of the same speech, 
rather than to the Dutch at the west end of the Island 
even if the ease and difficulty of access to their respec- 
tive neighbors had been less marked in comparison. 
As it was, however, a few hours sail through the Bay 
and across the Sound brought them to Saybrook and so 
up the inland waters of the Connecticut with ease and 
comparative speed and comfort, whereas, on the other 
hand. New Amsterdam, people by a different race, under 
o. more or less hostile government, speaking a different 
tongue, was distant a much longer sail, or a hundred 
miles overland through unbroken sandy forests. 

By blood, by tradition, by a common origin, by ease 
of access, by political, religious and commercial ties they 
were thus strongly bound to Connecticut (as they had 
also been by royal decree in the new Connecticut Pat- 
ent of 1644), when suddenly, in 1664, King Charles TI 
granted Long Island and other territory to the Duke or 
York. The Island was declared to be part of the Prov- 
ince of New York, which had been seized from the 
Dutch on the 25th of August of that year, and Governor 
Winthrop, under necessity, relinquished the claims of 
Connecticut. The new Governor of New York, Colonel 
Nicoll, called for a meeting of elected representatives of 
all the towns, who met February 28, 1665, in what is, 
known as the Hempstead Convention, Thomas Topping 
and John Howell being the members for Southampton. 

At this convention was passed the code known as the 
Duke's Laws, in spite of all opposition of the delegates. 
Suffolk County was erected into the "East Riding of 
Yorkshire" and practically all power conferred on offi- 
cials who by their mode of selection would be subservi- 
ent to the Governor. In spite of the fact that the settlers 
had already twice paid for their lands, once to the In- 
dians, and once to the King's previous grantee, a re- 



54 MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 

newal of the patents was demanded, and in 1670 the 
Southampton titles were declared invalid by the Court 
of Assize unless renewed by the new government. 

This immediately called forth a vigorous protest, 
signed by fifty freemen of the Town, dated February 15, 
1670, reciting the previous purchases and grants and 
other reasons why a new patent should not be required, 
as well as because in the new one now demanded "peo- 
ple are enjoined to acknowledge . . . that his royal 
highness the Duke of York is sole proprietor of the 
whole Island; which we cannot consent unto, because 
we know ourselves to be the true proprietors of the 
lands we here possess." The matter dragged along, 
and other protests were sent in, as to taxation for pur- 
poses in other parts of the Province in which they had 
no interest and especially as to lack of representation 
in a General Assembly. These protests were declared 
by the Government to be "scandalous, illegal, seditious" 
and were publicly burned in New York City. 

On July 30, 1673, New York again passed into the 
hands of the Dutch, and within a fortnight every Long 
Island town was warned to send deputies to New York 
to swear allegiance to the new government. 

Southampton again turned to Connecticut, and the 
five towns of the East End sent a list of demands to the 
Dutch of what they required as to guarantees before 
they would acknowledge the government of the latter. 
In October the Dutch sent a force to receive the oaths 
of allegiance from the citizens of the Eastern towns. 
This force reached Southold, but the inhabitants refused 
to take the oath. In the record of the Journal kept on 
the frigate (on which the force had arrived) we read 
that "some inhabitants of Southampton were present; 
among the rest one John Couper, who told Mr. Steen- 
wyck to take care and not appear with that thing at 
Southampton, which he more than once repeated ; for 
the Commissioners, agreeably to their commission, had 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 55 

intended to go thither next morning; whereupon Mr. 
Steenwyck asked, what he meant by that word Thing; 
to which John Couper repHed, the Prince's flag; then 
Mr. Steenwyck enquired of John Couper, if he said so of 
himself, or on the authority of the inhabitants of South- 
ampton. He answered : Rest satisfied that I warn you, 
and take care you come not with that Flag within range 
of shot of O'ur village." And tihey did not, fearin'g, as 
they record, that it "would do more harm than good." * 

Connecticut had already been appealed to, and on 
November 20, 1673, declared war on the Dutch. The 
only fight which occurred was at Southold, in which 
Capt. John Howell and forty soldiers from Southampton 
took part, resulting in the retirement of the Dutch. 

By treaty in Europe, however, Holland exchanged all 
its American territory for the island of Surinam, and the 
English again took possession of New York, October 
31, 1674. 

In spite of protests both from Connecticut and the 
Eastern Towns, the new Governor, Andros, forced the 
island into submission, and required the towns of East 
Hampton, Southampton, and Southold to take out new 
Patents. The new Southampton Patent was dated 
November i, 1676, and is given on "behalfe of them- 
selves and their associates" to "John Topping, Justice 
of the Peace, Capt. John Howell, Thomas Halsey, Sen- 
ior, Joseph Rainer, Constable, Edward Howell, John 
Jagger, Jo'hn Foster and Francis Sayre, Overseers, Levt. 
Joseph Fordham, Henry Pierson, John Cooper, Ellis 
Cook, Samuel Clarke, Richard Post and John Jen- 
nings." 

In 1686 the succeeding Governor, Dongan, again re- 
quired a Patent to be taken out, which was issued De- 
cembeV 6 of that year, and which "Created, Constituted 
and Made . . . Maj. John Howell, Thomas Halsey, 
Senior, Edward Howell, John Jagger, John Foster, 

* Docts., Illus., Col. Hist., Vol. II, p. 657. \ 



56 ORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 

Francis Sayres, Joseph Fordham, Henry Pearson, Sani- 
uell Clarke, Job Sayers, William Barker, Isaac Halsey 
to stand and be the first modern Trustees of the Free- 
holders and Commonalty of the Town of Southampton," 
etc. 

"By the terms of the Dongan Patent the town was to 
pay 40 shillings annually as a quit rent. After the Revo- 
lution this was considered as due to the State of New 
York and by an Act of Legislature April i, 1786, it was 
ordered that the rents should be paid into the treasury, 
but that all persons holding lands by patent and by quit 
rent, might commute the same by paying 14 shillings for 
each shilling of quit-rent. By this commutation dis- 
appeared the last shadow of our colonial form of Gov- 
ernment." * 

In the meanwhile, in 1703, before which date certain 
additional purchases westward of the original one had 
been made from the Indians, the entire Town was again 
purchased from them for "twenty pounds current 
money," so that in all, the title has been bought and con- 
firmed five times. 

Continuing this question of title, attention may here 
be called to the two modes of tenure by which land was 
held in the Town at first and continued so to be held 
until about thirty-four years ago (1892). 

In "The Disposall of the Vessell" we have seen it pro- 
vided that the land should be divided into house lots, 
planting lots and commonage. It is further stated in 
the same document that "Moreover whosoever cometh 
in by us shall hould himself satisfied with four Achres 
[later changed to three acres] to an howse lott and 
twelve achres to a plantinge lott and soe much meddow 
and upland as may make his Accomodations fifty achres, 
except wee, the said undertakers, shall see cause to 
Inlarge that proportion by A farme or otherwise. Fur- 
thermore noe person nor persons whatsoever shall chal- 

* Note by W. S. Pelletreau in Town Records, Vol. Ill, p. 315. 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 57 

lenge or claim any proper Interest in seas, rivers, 
creekes or brooks howsoever bounding or passing 
through his grounds but Freedom of fishing, fowhng 
and navigation shall be common to all within the 
bankes of the said waters whatsoever." 

It has also been seen that all of the deeds were granted 
to certain men named and their associates, and the land 
so granted was held by them jointly except such portions 
as they might allot to individuals among themselves or 
others. If allotted to one of themselves, that person 
would so acquire the fee simple of the piece so allotted 
to him and still retain his share in the remainder yet 
undivided after that allotment to himself and others had 
been made; but if an allotment were made to one not a 
Proprietor, all that he acquired was the fee of the par- 
ticular piece allotted to him, with no rights whatever in 
the remaining common land, unless he acquired an inter- 
est in it by purchase from some Proprietor or, as was 
sometimes the case, had an interest in it specifically 
allotted to him. The proportionate interest which each 
Proprietor owned in the total undivided, or "common'" 
land, was the same as the ratio which the amount which 
he had paid in to the joint stock of the undertakers bore 
to the total amount of that stock. Thus we find in the 
Town Records (Vol. I, p. 50), June 11 [1647] that "it 
is ordered by all the Inhabitants of this Towne this day 
that this town is to be devided into fortie house lots 
some biger some less, as men have put in a share, six 
thousand pounds to be devided into fortie parts." This 
made £150 a piece and was the origin of the so called 
"£150 lots." Each lot was subdivided into three 
Fifties, which continued to be the smallest division for 
some years. 

It will be noted that the above is ordered by "all the 
Inhabitants of this Towne," and it is probably a fact 
that during the early years every, or nearly every, free- 
man was likewise a Proprietor, and that thus in their 



5S MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMFTON 

dual capacities they could transact both Town business 
and Proprietors' business at the same meeting, which 
was simply recorded as a Town Meeting. The dual ca- 
pacity, however, was clearly understood, and thus we 
find, when the question came up, that it was "by generall 
voat of the town concluded and agreed upon that the 
Charges about the present patent for the town shall be 
paid by the proprietors according to their respective 
proportions of purchase of fifties, hundreds, and hun- 
dred and fifties." (T. R., Vol. II, p. 119— Feb. 7, 1686-7). 

These proprietor's rights were transferable, could be 
bought and sold, constantly were so, and passed by in- 
heritance. 

As the town grew and its needs became more diversi- 
fied, men pursuing various useful trades were fre- 
quently given allotments of land on condition that they 
would come and remain in the town and carry on their 
trade there. It was usually agreed that they were to 
remain a certain number of years, after which the land 
would be theirs in fee, but if they did not remain then 
the land to revert to the Proprietors, or Town, used in 
that sense. Thus on December 10, 1678, "By voat is 
granted unto Ezekiel Sanford and given him fifteen 
acres of land . . . that he continue in the towne & 
follow his vocation of making cart wheels the term of 
seven years from this time, at a reasonable rate and after 
that the land to be at his own dispose." (Vol. II, p. 75. 
This land was 'the lot on Ocean Road running north from 
Bridge Lane, on which the old homestead stands. ) But 
with such grants went no right of ownership in the un- 
divided land, unless it were specifically and additionally 
granted. As, however, a share or fraction of a share 
could be bought for no great sum, they frequently were 
bought and so new comers or a younger generation 
could, and likely did. become proprietors, either by spe- 
cial grant, by private purchase or by inheritance. Thus 
in 1701 Thomas Topping sells to Rbenezer White. Min- 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 59 

ister in Bridgehampton, a £50 right of commonage for 
53s. 6d. (T. R., Vol. VI, p. 19) and John Wick leaves in 
his will (1718) "^ of a 50 of commonage throughout 
the town." 

By this means, although the number of allotments did 
not materially increase, the number of Proprietors did, 
and Proprietors' rights became more and more sub- 
divided. Moreover, with every Division of a section of 
the "common" land, the amount of land remaining un- 
divided decreased, of course, and so the amount which 
by virtue of his £150 share or fraction thereof, the 
Proprietor had proportional interest in. Thus, some- 
thing over a quarter of a century ago, the common land 
had, so far as could be ascertained, been practically all 
divided, while the number of Proprietors through the 
subdivision incident to the changes of some eight gen- 
erations had become very numerous, though with, in- 
dividually, extremely small interests. 

In the meantime, however, the claims of the Propri- 
etors as against the Town had not been wholly unchal- 
lenged. The terms and phraseology of Governor Don- 
gan's Patent were held by some to invalidate the rights 
of the Proprietors, and this was made use of to force the 
Proprietors to an agreement, they having recently ex- 
tended their claims to include the products of the town 
waters. Committees of the Town and also of the Pro- 
prietors met in 1816, and in 1818 a Bill prepared by a 
joint conference of representatives of the two parties 
was passed in the Legislature. This bill gave to the 
Proprietors the undivided lands, meadows and mill 
streams, and to the Town the "power to make laws, 
rules or regulations concerning the waters (other than 
the mill streams), the fisheries, the seaweed, or any 
other productions of the waters of the said town," even 
on the shores of common lands, "which waters, fisheries, 
seaweed and productions of the waters shall be managed 
by the Trustees of the freeholders and commonalty of 



00 MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 

the town of Southampton," etc. These rights remain 
lo the town today. 

In the meantime, up to the passage of this Act, the 
Trustees of the Town had acted in a dual capacity, as 
Trustees of the Town and also as Trustees of the Pro- 
prietors of the Undivided Common Land. By that Act 
a new body of Trustees was created, and they assumed 
and it was assumed by the Courts that all the rights 
formerly exercised by the Town Trustees in so far as 
they related to the property confirmed to the Proprie- 
tors passed to this new corporation. 

In 1882 by private sale, and in a number of deeds, the 
Trustees of the Undivided Common Land sold and 
transferred to Rufus Sayre (who soon transferred to 
others ) all of their interest east of Halsey's Neck Lane, 
and to Henry W. Maxwell everything west of that lane, 
with the exception of two small items which were sold 
to other individuals. The Trustees all resigned in 1890 
with the intention of a final dissolution of the body, but 
as it was found that it might possibly be convenient to 
continue its existence in connection with land titles, a 
Board was re-elected on September 7, 1912, consisting 
of six members, two of whom have died. No meetings 
are held. 

Of the property sold by them in 1882, the main item 
was the fee of all highways, not originally laid out on 
private land. This ownership of the fee of the road bed 
applies to the greater part of the highways in the Town, 
and by some it is contended that if such highways were 
ever abandoned by the Town the ownership would be 
vested in the heirs or assigns of the 1882 purchasers and 
not in the owners of the abutting property. 

As all beach lots were originally allotted only on the 
then meadow land, the beach itself being fenced off, 
those purchasers may also own all of the beach save in 
such cases as they or the Trustees have given title. 
Their title to the beach, including the dunes, is, how- 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 61 

ever, complicated by the encroachment of the sea and 
beach upon the originally allotted land. Their title em- 
braces whatever may be between present high water 
mark and the south line of the original allotments, which 
is more or less indeterminate. 

That the Town owns all ponds, bays, etc., is unques- 
tionable, but nevertheless attempts at encroachment 
have frequently been made, and the Town has had to 
repel such attempts. In 1908, the right of the Town to 
its waters was again affirmed by an unanimous decision 
of the Court of Appeals in connection with an attempt to 
lease a part of Mecox Bay for oyster beds by repre- 
sentatives of the old Proprietors. 

Before finally leaving the subject of land it may be 
interesting to describe the machinery of a "Division." 
When a tract of land was to be divided it was surveyed 
and divided into as many lots as there were £150 allot- 
ments outstanding, plus one. The lots were numbered, 
and a numbered ticket made out for each one. Another 
set of tickets were made out, equal in number, on which 
were written the Proprietors' names, each ticket being 
made up of so many Proprietors as were necessary to 
make the £150. The two sets of tickets were put in 
separate boxes and then one drawn from each, by which 
was determined the lot and its new owner. Each pair 
of tickets were fastened together for permanent filing 
and an entry made in the Town Records. The extra 
lot was called the "blank lot" and was sold to pay for 
the work of laying out the division. In the "30 Acre Di- 
vision" of 1712 a Blank Lot was laid out at Mill Pond 
Head at Deerfield, and gave its name to Blank Lane 
(originally Blank Lot Lane), still so-called and which 
bounded it on the west. * 

This serious discussion of the land question may well 
have as an Appendix the following poem which ap- 
peared in Harper's Weekly about a dozen years ago, in 

* See Town Records. Vol. VI. p. 268. 



02 MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMFTON 

connection with the question of the Town's rights over 
its ponds and streams. 

THE STREAMS OF SUFFOLK 

O! Men of Suffolk brave! Arise! 

Protect your sons and daughters, 
For Gotham hke an octopus 

Is reaching for your waters ! 
From Nissequag to Aquebogue, 

Ronkonkoma and Sagg, 
Matinecock and Shinnecock 

And distant Copiag, 
From Ketchaboneck to Peconic, 

Mastic and Patchogue, 
From Arshamomoque unto Commac, 

Crooked Hill and Quogue — 
Arises a wail on the wintry gale 

That makes the strongest spirit quail. 

From Unchahogue to Poxabogue 

And the shores of Mecox Bay, 
From Poosepatuck to Mattituck 
They're aching for the fray ! 
From Babylon and Nineveh 

To the spires of Scuttle Hole, 
The natives cry with flashing eye 

And murder in their soul : 
"We'll fight you, proud Metropolis! 

Till victory or death, 
Upholding Suffolk's liberties 

Until our dying breath ; 
Go woo the distant Ramapo — 

We have no ponds to spare for you !" 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 63 

We love our every lake and stream 

From Islip to Montauk; 
O ! give us back our Orowac 

And sweet Quinnotowauk ! 
Disturb not Occobomock's shades 

Nor Wingatthapagh's nooks — 
There's death in the Konghonanock 

And Pauquacumsuck brooks ! 
There's microbes in the Mispatuck, 

And germs in the Awixa ! 
There's serpents in the Secatogue ! 

Would you seek life's elixir? 
Go drain the Adirondack streams, 

And leave us to our peaceful dreams ! 



CHAPTER IV 

EARLY MECOX AND SAGG 

The settlers who had been captured by the Dutch had 
stated in their examination that if the land were good 
they expected many more people to come. These evi- 
dently came when the colony was finally established at 
Southampton, for the numbers gathered there grew 
rapidly, doubling in the first five years, and we early find 
the limits of the "Old Town" settlement expanding. 
Although the first separate settlement was made at 
North Sea in 1650, the tendency to expand toward Me- 
cox and Sagg was early evident. It may be said that for 
a long time, by the name Sagaponack was usually meant 
all the land east of Sagg Pond, and by Mecox a tract 
running all the way from that Pond west to Flying- 
Point and north to the present village at least. In 1699, 
in a deed dated Sept. 20th of that year, occurs the first 
local use of the name Bridgehampton so far as I know, 
and this may be so because, as we now know, in May of 
that year the Legislature passed a bill incorporating 
Sagaponack and Mecox into the separate Parish of 
Bridgehampton. It is interesting to note, as showing 
the relative importance of neighborhoods, that in a deed 
dated 1713-14 Sagg Main Street is spoken of as the 
"main street of Bridgehampton." * 

Another name which many writers, as well as tradi- 
tion, assign to Bridgehampton in its early days, is that 
of Feversham, but I have failed to find any mention of 

* T. R., Vol. VI, p. 91. 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 65 

it except on page 175, Vol. I, of the Town Records, where 
"Mr. John Ogden of Feversham" is mentioned, but he 
was one of the founders of North Sea in 1650 and so far 
as I know lived there and not here. That many of the 
families who settled here, were originally from that vil- 
lage in England, I think is an undoubted fact, and I here 
give, in order to preserve them, some entries found by 
the Town Clerk there in the records of St. Mary's 
Church between 1620 and 1699 and which were pub- 
lished in the News, Mar. 13, 1908. 

Barber— Baptised 1662, Sept. 28, Mary d. of Nicholas Barber and 
Mary his wife of Osperage. 

Cooper — Baptised 1631, Oct. 30, Jane d. of John Cooper and 
Ruth. Buried 1637, Dec. 13, Annis, wife of John Cooper. Buried 
1638, Apr. 13. John Cooper. Married 1636, Julye 31. John Cooper 
and Anne Lee. 

Cooke — Buried 1650, Mar. 23 John Cooke, sexton, by taking 
dcwne the Prince's Armes in the church, fell from the lather and in 
and after dyed. 

Diamond — Married 1634, Aprill 3. John Diamond and Joyce 
Hilton. 

Foster — Married 1632, July 22, Michael Foster and Alice Gould- 
smith. Married 1643. Sept. 9 John Foster and Margaret Goulth- 
waite. Buried 1648, May 9, Margaret Foster. Buried 1651, Mar. 19. 
Michael Foster's gardner. 

Howell — Married 1621, Sept. 9. John Howell and Ann Snode. 
Married 1629, Oct. 12. John Howell and Amy Norcock. 

Michell — Baptised 1622, June 2, John s. of Lewis Michell and 
Joane. Baptised 1629. July 29, John s. of Thomas and Jane. Bap- 
tized 1638, Sept. 20, John s. of John Michell and Joane. Buried 
1-630 Aug. 20, John Michell. Buried 1639, Dec. 1. Joane wife of 
John Michell; Dec. 16, John Michell. Buried 1641, Sept. 17. John 
Michell, Buried 1646. Mar. 3. John Michell. Married 1620 June 
27. Henry Michell and Anna Mapesden. Married 1649, Nov. 5. 
John Michell and Marierne Chapman. 

Rose — Baptised 1624, Dec. 21, John s. of Richard Rose and Alice. 
Baptised 1634, Oct. 19, John s. of Samuell Rose and Rebecka. 
Buried 1624, Dec. 26, John Rose. Buried 1635-6 Feb. 13, Alice wife 
of Richard Rose and her Chrisome child with her. Buried 1638, 
May 10. Elisabeth, wife of Samuell Rose. Buried 1642-3 Mar. 2. 
John Rose. Married 1655 July 6. Samuell Rose woodower and 
Benek Hoges widdow. 

Wilmot — Baptised 1664, June 27. John s. of Alexander Wilmott 
and Elizabeth. Baptised 1649-50 Feb. 24, Susana d. of Alexander 
Wilmott and Elizabeth, Baptised 1655-6 June [Jan. ?] 5 Mary d. of 
Alexander Wilmott and Elizabeth borne the 3rd day, baptised the 
5th day. Buried 1666, Sept. 7, Elisabeth Wilmott. Baptised 1663, 



06 MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 

June 28, Alexander s. of Alexander Wilmott and Elisabeth. Bap- 
tised 1664, Oct. 24, Ann d. of Alexander Wilmott and Ann. 1668. 
Alexander Wilmott chosen Churchwarden Mar. 23, sworn Apl. 3. 
Baptised 1651-2, Feb. 6, Elisabeth d. of Alexander Wilmott and 
Elizabeth, 

Wood — Married 1625 — Aug. 28. Peignold Wood and Jane Fair- 
man. 

The first mention of Mecox, so far as I have found, is 
in the Town Records of Jan. 7, 1644, in Articles of 
Agreement between Mr. Edward Howell, Gent, and the 
Town, in which Edward Howell agrees to build "a suffi- 
cient mill at Meacoxe." (This mill stood north of the 
present one at Water Mill, one stone having been pro- 
cured from a rock at Mill Stone Brook, Seponack, and 
another from Mill Stone Swamp near Brick Kilns. ) The 
next notice is on Mar. 7, same year, when it is provided 
that two persons shall be appointed, one of which two, 
after every storm, "shall go to viewe and espie yf there 
be any whales cast up as far as the South Harbor [the 
inlet to Shinnecock Bay] and the other shall goe unto 
the third pond beyond Meacocks, beginning at the wind- 
mill." 

For long, the two most important industries of the 
settlers were agriculture and whaling, the latter carried 
on directly off the beach, and it was to these two that, 
undoubtedly, was due the first settlement of Mecox and 
Sagg, whaling stations later being established at both 
places. 

In 1646 it was ordered that "Mr. Howell hath 4 acres 
of Meddow land graunted unto him at Meacoxe where 
he thinks meete," but the first allotment of land within 
the present boundaries of Bridgehampton was in Jan., 
1653 [1654], when the "Division of lande called Sag- 
aponack" was laid out into 41 £150 allotments, which 
were drawn for Feb. 2.* The land so laid out extended 
from the eastern boundary of the town westward to 
Flying Point, lying along the ocean and the north side of 

- T. R., Vol. I, pp. 98-100. 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 67 

Mecox Bay, south of the road to Fairfield, Bridge Lane 
and, largely, south of Mecox Road. No previous clear- 
ing or cultivation had apparently been attempted in the 
30 eastern lots (the first 22 vv^ere east of Sagg Pond) in- 
cluding, roughly, all the allotment in Sagg and the pres- 
ent Mecox, for beginning at 31 and going westward the 
land is noted as "Meacoxe old ground," which meant 
land which had already been under cultivation by the 
settlers. (Lands previously cultivated by Indians were 
spoken of as "Indian fields.") 

While no settlement had yet been made, the land had 
been divided, was now owned by individuals in specific 
lots, and the way open for building and settling as soon 
as the owners or new purchasers might desire to do so. 
As was always the case in a "Division" we find much 
activity in the "real estate market" immediately after 
the allotment, those not caring to retain their newly 
drawn land selling or exchanging it, while others who 
for some reason liked the newly opened locality would 
buy or add to their holdings there. 

The very week following the drawing of lots we find 
"Mr. Josiah Stanborough" buying more land in Sagg, 
and in the next few years adding heavily to his holdings 
there, including lots 8, 15, 21, 22, 3, 18 and others of the 
Division.* In May, 1656, he sold "his housing and fenc- 
ing upon 3 acres of his town home lot with the said 3 
acres" to Mr. Edward Johnes,t and as Mr. Pelletreau 
states "it is no stretch of the imagination that there and 
then he made the first settlement of Sagaponack, and 
to him is justly due the credit of being the founder." % 
There are, however, two other pieces of evidence. On 
March 9, 1658 [1659 N. S.], on account of a controversy 
over the exact boundary between the two towns, Stan- 
borough lost four acres which were found to lie in East 

* T. R., Vol. I, pp. 133 ff. ~ 

t T. R., Vol. I, p. 135. 
t News, Dec. 24, 1909. 



G8 MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 

Hampton, for which, "to make him satisfaction," South- 
ampton offered him "20s. more than he payed for this 
land, or else to give him twelve acres of plaine land a 
mile nearer his dwelling," (which he declined to ac- 
cept). * While this proves the existence of his house in 
March, 1658 [1659], there is, in the East Hampton Rec- 
ords t evidence of an earlier date, for on the i8th Feb- 
ruary 1657 [1658] Charles Barnes "Declareth yt he 
heinge at Saggoponack at Mr. Stanbarows in the Spring 
time : at yt time Mr. Stanbarow did speak unto my 
mother in law," etc. This springtime was of the previ- 
ous year, 1657, so our eyidence as to the first settlement 
becomes as follows : First, there is no possibility of set- 
tlement before 1654, because until that year the land 
was all common [Division drawn Feb. 2, 1653, Ol'i Style, 
1654 new]. Second, there is no evidence anywhere 
of a settlement by anyone before 1656. Third, in that 
year, Mr. Stanborough, who had previously bought 
heavily in Sagg, sells his home in Southampton Village, 
presumably to move to the new home we know he soon 
occupied in Sagg. Fourth, in 1657 we have the East 
Hampton record clearly indicating that his house had 
been built and that he was then living there, but not 
positively stating so. Fifth in 1658 [1659] we have 
the definite reference to his "dwelling" there. The above 
so far as I know is all of the contemporary evidence 
which we possess indicating the date of the first settle- 
ment of the part of the Town now constituting Bridge- 
hampton Parish, and to my mind it clearly points to 
May, 1656 as the date. 

The above dwelling house, which was so far as we 
know the first, stood at the south end of Sagg Main 
Street, on what is still known as "the Stanborough Lot," 
which was part of the estate of the late David Emmett 

* T. R., Vol. I, p. 116. ^ 

t E. H. T. R., Vol. I, p. 127. 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BKtDGEHAMPTON 69 

Pierson.* The old burying ground, near which the 
house stood was probably nearly as old as the little set- 
tlement, for in his will, dated July 6, 1661, the above 
Stanborough gives his "body to bee hurried at Saga- 
ponack by my former wife,'' which indicates a prior 
burial, although the earliest stone now decipherable is 
that of John Topping 1686. As the earliest houses in 
the settlement were on all three sides of the lower end of 
the now Main Street, the burying ground was right in 
the middle, which, as Judge Hedges says, "from all the 
conditions of the age is just where we should expect it 
to be. . . . There was apprehension that the In- 
dians might disinter and take the scalps of buried bodies 
and therefore from the days of the Plymouth Colony 
for many years, the graves of the dead were made near 
the abode of the living, who carefully watched and 
guarded them from desecration." J Mr. Stanborough's 
second wife seems to have been of a somewhat militant 
temper for, on Sept. 22, 1658, he was sentenced by the 
Court of Magistrates "to pay unto the Court for his 
wifes abusing the officer and the two men that did assist 
him £0, 15s, od."t 

Of this Josiah Stanborough, I here give some notes 
by Mr. Pelletreau which appeared in the News (Dec. 
24, 1909, and June 24, 1910). He "was probably from 
Stanstead in Kent. John Hand, in 1649, gives him let- 
ters of attorney for sale of land in Stanstead. He calls 
him "brother," and John Hand, Jr., calls him uncle. 
John Hand, Sr., probably married his sister. Josiah Stan- 
borough's first wife was Frances, daughter of Henry 
and Alice Gransden, of Tunbridge, in Kent. She died 
shortly after his settlement at Saggaponack. His sec- 
ond wife was Alice or Alee, widow of Thomas Wheeler 
of New Haven." In his will "he mentions his wife Alee 

* W. S. Pelletreau, News, Dec. 24, 1909. 
X News, Jan. 28, 1910. 
t T. R., Vol. I, p. 119. 



70 MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 

and children Peregrine, Josiah, Sarah and Mary, the last 
married John Edwards of East Hampton. Josiah Stan- 
borough II married Annah Chatfield, July 24, 1670. 
Peregrine married Sarah, daughter of the Rev. Thomas 
James, Dec. 15, 1664." "Though there are many de- 
scendants of Josiah Stanborough the name is now ex- 
tinct in this town." Ruth, daughter of Peregrine, mar- 
ried John Greenvill, who was a temporary resident of 
Southampton. This Peregrine was probably the first 
white child born in the Town (see "Old Long Island 
Wills"). There was an Isaac Stanborough who lived 
c-.t North Side, west of Sag Harbor, during the War of 
181 2. He had a family and among them a son, Capt. 
Youngs Stanborough, who went to Southampton Vil- 
lage about 1854, and there lived and died. His children 
were Lewellen (of Rhode Island?) and a Mrs. Ward of 
Southampton. 

In his will, he described himself as being "sick in body" 
and, as the will was proved Sept. 3, 1661, he must, of 
course, have died between July 6 and Sept. 3 of that 
year. In the will, among other items, he leaves £5 
to the poor of Southampton. 

Another family which was undoubtedly among the 
founders of Sagg was that of the Toppings, but we do 
not know positively when they came, although it 
is probable that they came at, or about, the same time 
as the Stanboroughs, and it is possible that Capt. 
Thomas Topping came himself, but we do not know. 
Of him, and of his family, I here preserve the informa- 
tion given in two articles by Mr. Pelletreau in the News 
of Jan. 7 and 14, 1910. 

Where Capt. Thomas Topping originally came from 
is unknown. Savage's Genealogical Dictionary, the 
best of all authorities, states that he was in Weathers- 
field, Conn., previous to 1639, and that in that year he 
was in Milford, joining the church in that place in 1640. 
His son Elnathan was baptized there Aug. 2, 1640, and 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BKJDGEHAMPTON 71 

James Feb. 12, 1643. Feb. 26, 1649, he was living in 
Hempstead, L. I., and had apparently been there for 
some time. On the above date, he, with others, wrote a 
letter to Gov. Stuyvesant. On Apl. 8, 1652, a deposition 
of Thomas Foster and others states "that they coming 
into the meeting at Hempstead heard the Governor say, 
that the town had not made a legal choice and that all 
that had been done since Capt. Topping went away, hee 
looked at to be nothing." (N. Y. Col. Doct., Vol. 14.^ 
The first volume of Hempstead Records is lost, and the 
existing Records begin in 1654, and among other things 
state that one Wm. Washburn was indebted to Capt. 
Topping on a bond about "an exchange of housing and 
lands "before 1659, which goes to show that he was a 
land owner in that town. 

"From the day when he first stepped on Southampton 
soil to the day he left it he was one of the foremost men 
of the town. The first mention is Mar. 31, 1650, when 
he and John Ogden were chosen 'freemen' of the town 
of Southampton. (Records, Vol. I, p. 49.) On July 24. 
he was chosen *to price the goods and chattels of de- 
ceased William Browne.' On Oct. 7, 1650, he was 
chosen as one of the magistrates, and seems to have held 
that position as long as he remained. On Oct. 8, of the 
same year, he was 'apoynted by the souldiers to be cap- 
taine and leader of the bande of soldiers of the towne.' 
(Rec, Vol. I, p. 67) and was confirmed by the General 
Court. He had been Captain when in Hempstead. 

"The first indication that we have of his purchasing 
land at Sagaponack is on Dec. i, 1657, when he had a 
lawsuit against Josiah Stanborough in regard to lots 9 
and 13, and was successful. In the original division he 
drew lots 7 and 17. 

"It is quite probable that he settled in Sagaponack 
as early as Josiah Stanborough, but we have no evidence 
of it. The first indication is the fact that he was a wit- 
ness to the will of Josiah Stanborough July 6, i66t. As 



72 MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 

the will was proved Sept. 3, it probably was made during 
his last sickness, and as a near neighbor Capt. Topping 
would naturally be called in. 

"In 1662 he purchased from the Indians a very large 
tract of land in the western part of the town, and 
although he failed to retain it, it still perpetuates his 
name as the 'Topping Purchase.' 

"Strange as it may seem to some, we have no posi- 
tive evidence that Capt. Topping actually lived in Sag- 
aponack, otherwise than as mentioned above. About 
1678 he left Southampton and went to Branford, or Kil- 
lingworth. Conn. Whether Capt. Thomas Topping ever 
lived in Sagaponack or not, it is certain that his sons 
lived there, and their descendants after them." * 

As is seen from the above, it is only a matter of sur- 
mise whether Capt. Topping ever lived in Sagg. My 
own opinion, for what it may be worth, is that he never 
did. I base this on three grounds. First, there is noth- 
ing I have seen to indicate that he did so, except his 
witnessing Stanborough's will. That can be explained 
on other grounds. Second, from all we know of the 
Captain he was a man of restless and energetic make 
up, active in the public life of whatever town he lived in, 
a man used to and engaged in, large affairs. The nat- 
ural theater of action for such a man was Southampton 
Village, and not the tiny hamlet of Sagg, nearly seven 
miles over a bad and heavy road, through the woods. 
That he should own land there, see its possibilities, and 
make provision for the residence of some of his children 

* Mr. Pelletreau continues: "On Oct. 5, 1686, he ^ave to his sons 
Elnathan and James all his lands in Southampton. His home lot in 
the village of Southampton is the present homestead of Henry H. 
Post [1910] and also includes the home lot of the late James H. 
Foster. This home lot was occupied by his youngest son, Thomas 
Topping, who died before his father in 1682, and in 1683 Capt. 
Topping confirmed the same to his grandson, Thomas Topping. 
Capt. Topping died in Branford about 1687. In the Dutch Records 
we find that Thomas Topping and Robert Coe of Hempstead gave 
a bond as securities for purchase money of the ship Amandre, July 
6, 1647." 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 73 

there, is natural however. Third, in the List of In- 
liabitants of 1657 or 1666, which will be discussed at 
length a little later, and which, following Howell, I be- 
lieve undoubtedly was made up by neighborhoods, we 
find his oldest son, John, still young on either date, liv- 
ing in Sagg, but the Captain put down as living in South- 
ampton. These three points, then, the absence of record 
to show he did not live in Southampton, the fact to my 
mind that he naturally would live there, and the further 
fact that in the only census we have of the town during 
his residence in it, he is shown to have lived there, all 
indicate to me that that was his place of residence, 
although it cannot be proved one way or the other, and 
1 know the pitfalls of the early records well enough not 
to assume to be in the slightest dogmatic in any opinion 
1 venture. 

Mr. Pelletreau's article continues: "In the earliest 
days of Southold there was a man living there named 
Thomas Cooper. It is quite probable that he was a 
brother to John Cooper, one of the original settlers 
of Southampton. He had wife, Margaret, to whom he 
left all his property. By a former husband, named 
Ramsdale, she had a daughter, Mary, who married El- 
nathan Topping, and was the ancestress of most of the 
families of that name. 

"John Topping, the oldest son of Capt. Thomas Top- 
ping, was born in 1636. His will is not on record, bui 
the original document is among the unrecorded wills in 
the New York Surrogate's ofifice. 

"John Topping appears as a Justice of the Peace as 
early as 1680 or before. His commission under Gov. 
Dongan is dated Oct. 20, 1865.* 

"The sons of Capt. Topping all had homesteads on 
the south side of the road at the foot of Sagg Street, and 

* "His home lot in Southampton village he sold to John Gos- 
mer, who gave it to his stepson, John Woodruff, and his heirs held 
ir, for several generations. In 1746, it was sold to Francis Pelle- 
treau, and it now belongs to the heirs of Josiah Foster" [1910], 



74 MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 

on both the east and west sides of the Stanborough lot. 
Zerobabel Topping, who inherited his father's home lot, 
probably died young, and it passed to his brother, Jo- 
siah. On Dec. 2, 1695, Elnathan Topping sells to his 
nephew, Josiah Topping his new house and four acres 
of land at Sagaponack, 'bounded east and south by my 
own land.' Josiah Topping gives in exchange to his 
uncle Elnathan, his dwelling house that was his father's 
and four acres belonging to it at Sagaboneck, bounded 
north by the highway, west by land of Mr. Stanborough, 
and east and south by Elnathan Topping. In 1725 the 
land next west of the Stanborough lot was owned by 
josiah Topping. The homestead of Elnathan Topping, 
or the western part of it, fell to his son Stephen, who 
among other lands owned the "swamp close," and left it 
to his son Stephen, who left it to his son Paul Topping, 
whose house, still standing, is the homestead of Elisha 
O. Hedges. This is the place that figured in the famous 
Sagg Mill case. The homestead of James Topping (son 
of Capt. Thomas) descended to his son James, and his 
grandson Hezekiah Topping, who left it to his grand- 
sons, Hezekiah Bower and Job Haines." 

Another early settler was William Barnes, probably 
the son of Joshua Barnes, of Southampton. How early 
he lived in Sagg we do not know, but in 1672 he was 
granted by the Town ten acres at Sagaponack "adjoin- 
ing to the said William Barnes house lot," * which Mr. 
Pelletreau thinks was on the north side of Bridge Lane, 
and who further states that this Barnes afterward went 
to Westchester and became a man of great importance 
there. 

In 1669 Shamgar Hand of East Hampton bought 24 
acres from Peregrine Stanborough bounded west by the 
Pond and south by Bridge Lane, and as, in 1699, this 
is described as his home lot, it is possible that 1669 was 
the date of his arrival, although in that y ear, in the East 

* T. R., Vol. VI, p. 59. 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 75 

Hampton Records, he is spoken of as of that town. In 
1672 Peregrine Stanborough sells the right of com- 
monage in East Hampton "that I bought of Shamgar 
Hand" showing that Hand had sold out his commonage 
right in his old town by that date.f He was one of the 
party of colonists from the two Hamptons who went to 
Cape May in 1692. In the document spoken of, dated 
1699, he gives all of his holdings in Sagg, including 
Tan yards, a £50 right of commonage in Southampton 
and 1/3 of a share in Montauk to his son Josiah Hand 
"for love and affection and £130." 

In 1677, there was a new laying out of land in Sagg, 
north of the one of 1653, the present highway from 
Fairfield being then laid out between them, and, after 
this laying out, the Pierson family appear for the first 
time in Sagg. In his address of 1910, Mr. Pelletreau re- 
lated that "on Dec. 16, 1679, Henry Pierson, Jr., pur- 
chased from George Harris a tract of land bounded 
south by Wm. Barnes, Josiah Stanborough and Sham- 
gar Hand, west by Sagaponack Pond, east by the street, 
and north by the land of Benjamin Palmer. 
This land has continued in the possession of his de- 
scendants till the present time. He left it in his will to 
his son Job Pierson, and it fell in later years to men of 
the same name, and for long years it has appeared on 
the assessment rolls as the 'land of Job Pierson's heirs.' 

"The land where Lt. Col. Henry Pierson lived and 
made his home was on the east side of Main Street, 
south of the road that runs east by the land of the heirs 
of Richard Lester. On Dec. 30, 1678, Christopher Leam- 
ing sold to Henry Pierson 'all my home accomodations 
at Sagaponack, 6 acres whereof lye between the home 
lots of Benjamin Hand and Benoni Flint. In all 10 
acres.' This was the home of Lt. Col. Henry Pierson. 

"The lot bounded west by the Main Street, north by 
the highway that runs by the house of Mr. Hiram vS. 

t E. H. T. R., Vol. I, p. 348. 



76 MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 

Rogers, and south by the middle road, was Lot 20 of 
that division and fell to Thomas Halsey, whose son 
Daniel Halsey sold it to Theodore Pierson, a brother 
of Lt. Col. Pierson, June 9, 1692. He lived and died 
there, and left it to his heirs. By purchase and exchange 
and inheritance, the Piersons became the largest land 
owners in the place." 

Henry Pierson I, the father of Lt. Col. Henry Pier- 
son, was Town Clerk in Southampton from 1653 to 1669, 
and clerk of the County Court from 1669 to 1681. 

Lt. Col. Henry Pierson was a member of the Colonial 
Assembly as Representative from Suffolk Co., from 1691 
to 1 701, inclusive, and Speaker of the House from 1693 
to 1695, inclusive. He died the 15th of Nov., 1701, aged 
50, and is buried in Sagg Burying Ground. 

His son, David Pierson, was born in 1688 and died 
1767. He was for ten successive years, from 1737 to 
1747 a member of the Colonial Assembly. 

He had son Lemuel (4) who had son Capt. David (5) 
who had son Jesse (6) who had son David (7) who was 
member of the New York Assembly in 1850. (See 
Judge Hedges' article in the News, Jan. 28, 1910. ) 
Judge Hedges thought (News, May 28, 1908) that The- 
odore Pierson was a son of Henry (i ) and a brother of 
Lt. Col. Henry. Judge Hedges writes: "Capt. David 
(5) was a man of great intellectual power, strong in 
logic, deep in thought, formidable in argument, philo- 
sophical in research, practiced in public business, the- 
ologically as Calvinistic as Calvin, so much that in the 
talk of the day he was sometimes spoken of as a fatalist, 
ft was reported that when he chastised his son Jesse, the 
son to excuse his fault, said 'Father, it was fated I should 
do it!' The father answered 'It was fated I should 
whip you for it!'" This Capt. David lived on the lot 
now owned by John E. White [1910], next south of 
Richard Lester's home lot, which site was an ancestral 
Pierson homestead. Henry R. Pierson, Chancellor of 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 77 

the University of New York, was a descendant of Lt. 
Col. Henry (2). Job Pierson (6), son of Samuel (5) of 
Bridgehampton, was Surrogate of Rensselaer County 
and a member of Congress. 

Job Pierson, grandson of Lt. Col. Pierson, also had 
a homestead at Sagg, which is still standing on the west 
side of Main Street, near the south end, and is still 
owned by his descendants. 

Another early family in Sagg were the Norrises, who 
have left a memorial in the name of Norris Lane. Rob- 
ert Norris is first mentioned in 1678, as having been for 
eleven years servant to Richard Howell, who gave him 
a piece of land in Wickapogue. In 1683 Robert and 
Peter Norris were both taxpayers. Robert lived on 
the west side of Sagg Street, but the exact location is 
uncertain, while Nathan Norris lived where the late Mr. 
Hervey Howell lived on the main country road just east 
of Norris Lane. Thomas Norris sold his home lot in 
Southampton Village in 1741 and moved to Cohansev, 
N. J.* 

Another early resident was Christopher Leaming, 
who first lived in Southampton where the Union School 
House stands, and early moved to Sagg, there owning 
and living on the present homestead lot of Hiram S. 
Rogers. As has already been stated, he was one of those 
who emigrated to Cape May in 1692. 

Maj. John Howell (son of Edward Howell, one of 
the founders), who died in 1696, in his will, dated Apl. 
3, 1693, leaves to his fifth son, Theophilus, land at 
"Saggabonet" "namely that piece of land his now 
dwelling house stands on." This was the north part of 
the present homestead of Justice G. Clarence Topping. 

Edward Howell (3) lived at the south end of Sagg 
on the east side of the street, on the land owned by Sid- 
ney B. Topping, On Jan. 30, 1713-14, he sold his house 

* From notes on the will of Robt. Norris — W. S. Pelletreau, 
News. May 15, 1908. 



78 MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 

and i^ acres for £40, and in 1718 was living in Poxa- 
bog in the house still owned by his descendants. 

In 1697 the Town granted Henry Pierson, James 
Hildreth and Theophilus Howell the right to "sett up 
a mill upon Sagg Streame" for grinding as will be noted 
later in the chapter on old mills. 

Benjamin Palmer was living in Sagg in 1683-4, for 
he so describes himself in a deed of that date. (T. R., 
Vol. V, p. 213.) 

At one time, the noted Richard Smith, who was after- 
wards banished from Southampton and became founder 
and sole owner of Smithtown, owned land on the east 
side of Sagg Pond, bounded north by Bridge Lane and 
west by the Pond, later sold to Thomas Topping. His 
name, however, has always clung to it, and it is still 
Jcnown as Smith Corner. 

In 1684, Joel Burnet sells to his brother, Aaron Bur- 
net, "all my dwelling house and lot at Sagaponack," * 
and in 1704 is transferred a "20-acre lot that Dan Bur- 
net now liveth upon near Wainscot, or East Hampton 
bounds." t 

Another early settler, frequently mentioned, was 
John Morehouse, who lived on the farm owned in recent 
years by Cassander W. Hedges. In 1686, he bought 
from John Burnet a £50 right of commonage for 30 
shillings. 

In 1717 Benoni Flint owned the homestead of the 
late Rev. William Lester, and in 1715 Ammiruhama 
Rusco was living at Sagg, on part of the present home- 
stead of Charles Rogers, and Nathaniel Rusco was 
buried in the cemetery there in 1714. 

On April 17, 1695, Jonas Wood and wife, Lydia, of 

Elizabethtown, East Jersey, sell "to Mr. Ebenezer 

White, at a place called Sagaponack, ten acres of land," 

etc. J This was the Rev. Ebenezer White, first pastor 

* T. R., Vol. V, p. 214. 
t T. R., Vol. VI. p. 40. 
J T. R., Vol. VI, p. 54. 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 79 

of the church here, and the homestead which he then 
bought, was on the east side of Sagg Street, opposite 
the burying ground, and the house he built was not 
torn down until about 1856. 

In 1707 we find Daniel Hedges buying considerable 
land in Sagg in various parcels, and in a note to the 
Town Records, Vol. VI, p. 55, Mr. Pelletreau says 
"These deeds show the time when Daniel Hedges, the 
ancestor of a noted family, came to the town of South- 
ampton." Judge Hedges stated, however,* that the 
line was: "William (i) first settler in East Hampton, 
who left son Stephen (2), who had son Daniel (3) who 
removed to Sagabonack about 1702, (who had son Dan- 
iel (4) father of Deacon David (5)." Although no resi- 
dence is of course indicated, we know that Stephen 
Hedges (2) owned land in Sagg, for in the deed given 
by Shamgar Hand in 1699, already quoted, his home 
lot is described as being "bounded east by Stephen 
Hedges.".! 

The stones in Sagg Burying Ground prior to 1725 

are as follows : 

John Topping 1686 Capt. Elnathan Topping 1705 

Sarah Wilmot 1700 Esther Peirson 1714 

Col. Henry Pierson 1701 Nathan Rusco 1714 

Peregrine Stanborough 1701 Susannah Peirson 1716 

John Peirson 1704 Phillip Howell 1716 

Edward Petty 1704 Mary Peirson 1717 

Mary Topping 1704 Alexander Wilmott 1720 

There are none in Poxabogue prior to 1725. In all 
the cemeteries are unmarked graves as well as some 
stones now undecipherable. For complete list see Ap- 
pendix. 

Mention may here be made, as belonging to this 
neighborhood although of a much later period, of the 
Richard Lester spoken of above. This remarkable man 
was born in East Hampton, but long lived in Sagg, where 
he died Mar. 2y, 1879, age 82. Judge Hedges once 

* News, Jan. 28, 1910. 
t T. R., Vol. VI, p. 12. 



80 MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 

wrote of him "When a man deprived of early ed- 
ucational instruction, unlettered, can, without books 
kept or a scrap of writing, do a business of $20,000 
annually, carrying in his head all the details of pur- 
chase, sale, payment, sums, circumstances, that man 
is a born genius, and that Richard Lester could and 
did do. He could drive 150 cattle of a dozen dif- 
ferent persons to Montauk, enter them there on the 
rights of as many different persons, get together at 
Montauk when the pasture season was ended, drive 
off to each owner out of the herd his quota, and do it all 
with no memorandum, by sheer force of iron memory. 
Deploring his early disavantages, he labored to give 
his children and those dependent on him the educational 
benefits he never had, and his life of toil and hardship was 
largely devoted to that end." He was the father of the 
Rev. Dr. William H. Lester, D. D., of West Alexandria, 
Va. 

In the meantime, on the other side of Sagg Pond, an 
other neighborhood had also been growing up, but as 
to the exact date of the settlement of Mecox there is 
a considerable variety of opinion, it having been placed 
all the w^ay from 1653 to after 1677. I think that about 
all we can afffrm is that it probably occurred about the 
same time as the settlement in Sagg and certainly not 
later than 1665. My own rather strong opinion is that 
it occurred before 1659, for the following reasons: 

In Vol. V (page 28) of the Town Records is the 
"List of ye Towne" already referred to, which is placed 
in the printed records "about 1666." In spite of slight 
differences, this seems to me undoubtedly the same list 
which Howell gives and assigns to the year 1657. This 
list is evidently made by neighborhoods, and the fol- 
lowing names, which occur between two groups known 
to have been of Southampton Village and North Sea, 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON SI 

respectively, Howell calls "Eastern Men." These are 

Thomas Halsey Jr. (?), 

Ben Foster, 

Henry Ludlam. 

Anthony Ludlam, 
, Ellis Cook, 

Arthur Howell, 

John Topping, 

Peregrine Stanborough, 

Josiah Stanborough. 

The taker of the census would almost certainly fol- 
low the houses in order in a given direction. Now 
v/hat do we find? The last three, John Topping, Pere- 
grine Stanborough and Josiah Stanborough we know 
were in Sagg from about 1657 on. The census taker 
was therefore headed in that direction in all probability 
when enumerating the preceding names. As a matter 
cf fact, a little later, when we can definitely locate them, 
we know that after leaving East Hampton Path and 
coming along Mecox Road toward Sagg, that he would 
pass the houses of Anthony Ludlam, Ellis Cook, and 
Arthur Howell in exactly the order in which they ap- 
pear on his list. Is it not, therefore, a perfectly logical 
inference that, when the list was made, they were living 
in that order as to houses in which they appear on that 
list and in which order we know them to have been liv- 
ing shortly after? Moreover, the division of 1653 ^^^ 
mainly of land lying south of Mecox Road, and the men 
named above all had their houses on the south side of 
the road, which would again indicate settlement based 
on the first division. 

On Dec. 4 [1665] (no year is given but the next entry 
on the same page is Dec. 18, 1665) ^^^ ^i^d mention of 
"Anthony Ludlam's land at his house, hee being to re- 
ceive 8 acres besides the 2 acres hee assigned to John 
Beswick," etc.* By another land entry we know this 

* T. R.. Vol. I, p. 151. 



82 MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 

land referred to to have been his Mecox land, which 
shows his house there to have been built by 1665, and 
how much earlier we cannot tell. Howell gives 1659 as 
the date of settlement by Ellis Cook, and, although I 
have not been able to find so early a recorded date 
(save the "List" to be discussed later), Mr. Pelletreau 
says he was there as early as any one, and I agree with 
this; 1659 would agree with the likely date for the ar- 
rival of Arthur Howell. 

That land was being used there in 1659 we know from 
the following entry of Feb. 20 of that year [1660 N. S.]. 
"It was granted unto Peeter the Neigro that hee should 
have 3 acres of land in some convenient place by Arthur 
Howell his close at Meacocks. , . And he is to fence 
what he shall make use of with sufificient fencing, and 
stande to his owne Damage, and after he has done 
using the said land it is to returne to the comon inter- 
est." * Although I am sure in my own mind that Ar- 
thur Howell was living in his house at Mecox not later 
than 1666, and I believe by 1659, ^^e earliest recorded 
reference to his house, rather than to his land, which I 
can find is 1671, when 8 acres were laid to Jacob 
Wood "by Arthur Howell's land where his house 
stands," which land was in Mecox. 

Arthur Howell had married a daughter of Lion Gar- 
diner, and during his married life lived in East Hamp- 
ton, though remaining a member of the Southampton 
colony, for he is always mentioned as "of Southamp- 
ton." His wife died in February. 1657 [1658], and on 
March 4, 1658 [1659], he "sould his accomadacons unto 
John Mulford with the consent of the Towne," t and 
shortly after we find him married to Hannah, daughter 
of Thurston Raynor, of Southampton, his first child by 

* T. R., Vol. II, p. 207. It may have been used for grazing in 
1650, for in that year the Town agreed with "Goodman Halsey, 
Goodman Sayre and Goodman Post to keep the dry herd at Sag- 
aponack for four weeks." T. R., Vol. I, p. 70. 

t E. H. T. R., Vol. I, p. 154. 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 83 

this marriage being born 1661. These are the facts 
then: He owned land at Mecox, on which we subse- 
quently find him living. He returned from East Hamp- 
ton in 1658-9. In 1659-60 the negro was granted the 
light to use a little three-acre patch "in some convenient 
place by Arthur Howell his close." Now, when Howell 
built, the nearest probable neighbors were more than 
a mile east at Sagg and nearly a mile west, if Ellis Cook 
had then built. While, of course, there is no question 
of "proof" involved, the negro's 3-acre patch must have 
been near Howell's house, if built, or else near nobody's, 
and it seems a fair guess that when he had all out doors 
to choose from, and we find him choosing his "con- 
venient place" next to where we know one of the most 
prominent men in the colony lived soon after, and which 
otherwise would have been a lonely spot, that the reason 
he chose that particular "convenient place" was because 
of the house. What Howell's reasons were for stating 
in his history that Ellis Cook settled in 1659, I do not 
know, but it is seen from the above that it would coin- 
cide with a likely time for the arrival of Arthur Howell. 

Let us now take up again the question of the "List,'" 
for I believe that list, from the foregoing discussion, to 
have been made after the settlement of the Ludlams, 
Cooks and Howells in Mecox, and the date of the list 
thus places an outside date for such settlement. As 
stated, Howell gives the date as 1657, on what evidence 
I do not know, and the printed records as "about 1666." 
My own belief is that it was made by 1659, and in view 
of the conflict of authorities perhaps a little guessing 
will be allowed to me. 

Do we find anything in the affairs of the colony which 
would seem to give a reason for such a list being made 
nearer the earlier than the later date? It seems to me 
we do. The last previous recorded list was in 1649. 
Since that was made, there had been great changes. New 
colonists had come in, there had been deaths, boys had 



84 MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 

grown to manhood, and North Sea in 1650 and Sag- 
aponack in 1656 or 7 had been settled involving changes 
in location for many families, so that by 1657 or 1658 
the old list had become exceedingly inaccurate. More- 
over, in 1657 occurred the serious Indian attack on the 
town and the burning of several houses. In May of 
that year we find the colony applying to Connecticut 
for aid, and that colony sending twenty men, with pro- 
visions and ammunition for its assistance. Now the fact 
that there was no recent or accurate list, that many 
changes in numbers and locations had taken place, that 
a serious Indian outbreak had occurred, and that they 
had had to call in outside help to add to their own re- 
sources of men and ammunition, would all point to the 
clear necessity of making up a new and correct list of 
the freemen so as to be able to calculate their own re- 
sources in all these connections. 

Moreover, there is another bit of evidence that we 
may put in. In the list, which as usual probably con- 
tained only the names of heads of families, there are 
but two Toppings given, Capt. Thomas in Southamp- 
ton Village and his son John in Sagg. If the list were 
made about 1658, John, the oldest son, would have been 
about 22 years of age and the next three boys about 
18, 16 and 12, and consequently the list would perfectly 
represent the family as we know it. But if made in 1666, 
the sons would be 30, 26, 24 and 20, and, moreover, by 
that time, the second son had also been married some 
years and had a family. Why then does his name not 
nppear if the list were of the latter date? Apparently 
he was married not later than 1663 and should appear 
on any list subsequent to that date. All of the evidence 
confirms me in my belief that the list is of about 1659, 
though I admit there is no absolute proof. However 
that may all be, there is frequent mention of houses as 
we get down toward 1682, and in a deed of that date we 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 85 

touch very solid ground when we find mention of ''a 
certain village by the name of Mecox." * 

Among the first settlers, as already mentioned, were 
Anthony Ludlam, father of the one buried in the ceme- 
tery here, Ellis Cook and John, his son, Arthur Howell, 
^nd, later, Thomas Cooper, Jeremiah Halsey, and 
others. 

There was one peculiar feature about the settlement 
at Mecox, in which it differed from all the others else- 
where, in which the earliest houses were thickly clus- 
tered together, presumably for protection in one spot. 
In Mecox there is no trace of this, each settler living on 
his farm and no compact village or cluster of houses 
being made. All the early houses, however, as would 
be natural, were apparently along the line of Mecox 
Road. Thus Anthony Ludlam's place was the first as 
we came east, and was on the south side of that road, 
a little west of where it makes its sharp turn south. 
Ellis Cook lived on the south side just where Bay Lane 
joins Mecox Road, where the latter again turns sharply 
east. Arthur Howell probably lived about where Mr. 
Twyefifort's "Beach House" now stands, on the southeast 
corner of Ocean Road and the private road running 
down to the Pond. At that time, we know from the 
Records that there were many trees around his house, 
including some big ones at least (see Chapter I ) and also 
that the gate, known as "Mecox Gate" was standing in 
1679, ^^d had then been there some time, for in a deed 
of that date the land is described as "at a place com- 
monly called by the name of Meacock's Gate." This 
gate was across Ocean Road, just south of where Mecox 
Road runs into it, and was to prevent cattle straying 
down to the beach lots. Not more than forty years ago, 
at this same point, there were still bars kept across the 
road, which had to be let down if one wanted to go to 

* T. R., Vol. V, p. 199. 



86 MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 

the beach, so that "Meacock's Gate," now forgotten, 
liad a history of about 200 years. 

Thomas Cooper Hved on the north side of Mecox 
Road some little distance west of where Capt. Stephens 
now lives, although parts of the present Cooper home- 
stead on the south side of the road are over 200 years 
old. Of the first house of Thomas Cooper, the earliest 
mention which I have found is on May 2, 1690, when he 
is granted "aboutt 2 Rodd" of land "at his Lot at Mea- 
cox for ye conveniency of setting his house." * 

Mr. Pelletreau states in a note in the Records that 
Jeremiah Halsey lived where his descendant, the late 
Oliver Halsey, lived, which was on the east side of 
Halsey's Lane. A very old house was torn down there 
some years ago. Personally I cannot make a positive 
location of the first house, though I think the Records 
mdicate the neighborhood of Paul's and Halsey Lanes. 

Benoni Newton, who is buried in the cemetery here, 
was also an early settler, but it is uncertain just where 
his house stood. On page 80, Vol. VI of the Records, 
Thomas Topping sells to Jacob Wood, shoemaker 
"one-half of a 20 acre division of land at a place called 
Meacox, and is laid out for 10 acres. . . . bounded 
north by the highway, south by Benjamin Newton and 
James Hildreth's home lot, west by Thomas Cooper, 
east by James Hildreth" (Price £42, Apl. 20, 1704). 
Mr. Pelletreau thinks that this lot was the same as one 
previously described as "11 acres at Mecox at the rear 
of Benoni Newton's home lot," and that it was probably 
on the south side of Paul's Lane. In 1694 it was granted 
that Benoni Newton should have "that gore of land 
which will bring his fence straight from Thomas 
Cooper's House to ye Southeast corner of his own home 
lot."! ^^ 1712 Ebenezer Newton, who had gone to 
Cape May, sold a home lot of seven acres, house, etc., 

* T. R., Vol. II, p. 127. 
tT. R., Vol. II, p. 132. 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON S7 

which was on the north side of Mecox Road just west 
cf the old Hildreth Homestead. In 1677 there was a 
new laying out of land, adjoining to the old land on the 
north of the 1653 Division, and in that lots 21 and 22 
"adjoyns to John Beswick's land on the west side there- 
of and on the south to Benony Newton's and James 
Hildreth." * Just when 'the Hildreths came here to 
live I do not know, probably before 1677, but their land 
and old homestead was on the north side of Mecox 
Road west of the "Chattield place." Now, knowing 
vvhere the Hildreths lived and w'lhere Thomias Cooper 
lived, all the above extracts locate, very clearly to my 
mind, Benoni Newton as living on the north side of 
Mecox Road, between the Hildreths and Coopers. 
However, 1 have searched the Records enough to know 
that what is perfectly evident from a collected set of 
references is sometimes upset by a new, as those know 
well who have done similar work. 

The Sayres also came early, although at an uncer- 
tain date, Daniel Sayre describing himself as of Bridge- 
hampton in 1699-1700. His son, Captain Daniel, and his 
son's wife are both buried in Mecox Cemetery. 

In 1686 occurs the first mention of John Mitchell, t 
w ho became prominent and who must have moved here 
between that date and 1705,! for in the first notice he is 
described as "of East Hampton," and the second as "of 
Mecox." 

Jonah Rogers, J in 1698, was apparently living in 
Mecox on lot 18 on Calf Pen Neck. William Russell was 
living in 1688 on the west side of Kellis Pond,§ near 
where Samuel Lum is also found living in 1699. || The 
Schellingers apparently came to Mecox about 1731. for 

* T. R., Vol. II, p. 261. 
t T. R., Vol. V, p. 227. 
H T. R.. Vol. VI, p. 68. 
% T. R., Vol. VI, p. 74. 
§ T. R., Vol. VI, p. 66. 
II T. R., Vol. VI, p. 12. 



ss 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 



in that year we find David Scliellinger, of East Hamp- 
ton, buying several pieces of land here as well as ^ £50 
of commonage. Ezekiel Sandford has already been 
spoken of and will be mentioned again in the next 
chapter. 

The stones in Mecox Cemetery prior to 1725 are as 
follows : 



Anthony Ludlam 


1681-2 


Joannah Nuton 


1710 


Benoni Nuton 


1703-4 


Samuel Howell 


1712 


Isaac Nuton 


1703-4 


Ann Halsey 


1714 


Johannah Nuton 


1703-4 


John Mitchell 


1717 


Ellis Cook 


1706 


Ruth Halsey 


1717 


Susanna Cook 


1707-8 


Sarah Mitchell 


1718 


Patience Ludlam 


1708 


Anthony Ludlam 


1723 



The first is the oldest tombstone in the Town of 
Southampton. 

Such are some of the fragmentary notices of the 
earliest families who settled what was later to be Bridge- 
hampton. Volumes V and VI of the Town Records are 
particularly rich in references to this section, and patient 
research by someone, who was not only familiar with 
the Records, but who had knowledge of local genealogy, 
as well as of present and traditional family residences 
(such I cannot hope to possess) would probably result 
in much more detailed and definite knowledge . The 
above are simply notes, which I believe to be accurate, 
but which I know to be very incomplete. I realize my 
handicap as a comparative stranger in the village, both 
of today and of the past, and at least have not had the 
temerity to hazard any guesses of my own save as dis- 
tinctly pointed out. 



CHAPTER V 

THE BRIDGE, BULL HEAD, JOHN WICK, ESQ., ETC. 

The new settlements of Sagg and Mecox apparently 
grew and prospered, for in 1677 another large division 
was made of the land lying north of all that section of 
the localities laid out in 1653, ^^^ again in 1679 came 
the "Forty Acre Division" (lots of forty acres each), 
north of Bridgehampton, from Hay Ground to about 
Lumber Lane (Mr. A. M. Cook's house is on lot No. 2), 
and in 1712 came the "South," or "Thirty Acre" Divi- 
sion of the land at Mill Pond Head, Scuttle Hole, and 
on the main country road * north of Sagg. 

These threw open practically all of the country be- 
tween the ocean and the hills to settlement, and there is 
abundant evidence to show that the houses were soon 
scattered pretty well all over it. 

The locality by the Scuttle Hole Road north of Lum- 
ber Lane was early called Huntington, and the east end 
of Scuttle Hole Road was, and is still, known as Hunt- 
ington Path. This road was in existence long before 
1679, when the land division of that year used it as a 
boundary line. According to Mr. William D. Halsey the 
district known, then and now, as Scuttle Hole may "be 
said to extend from Mitchell's Lane to the lane which 

* This road has had various names — "Main Country Road," 
"Bridgehampton Main Street," in the village, "East Hampton 
Path," and in 1740 it is referred to as "the King's Road." T. R., 
Vol. Ill, p. 23. 



90 MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 

forms the south boundary of Pierce Butler's farm (for- 
merly the estate of Chancellor Nathan Sandford, the 
most noted man this town ever produced), and includes 
all that territory adjacent to Haynes' [Scuttle Hole] 
Pond, and is said to have received its name from a ped- 
dler who, in telling of a mishap which befell him in the 
locality, in which he either broke or upset his wagon by 
getting into a slough or hole, on being asked how he 
got out, replied 'Oh, I had to scuttle to do it.' Hence 
'Scuttle Hole.' In looking back upon the scene of his 
recent trouble, at his departure, he pronounced not 
blessings but rather the opposite upon this place, and in 
giving vent to his wrath this vendor of household neces- 
sities used such venomous and scathing language that 
one of the residents of that district wrote the following 
verses : 

THE CURSE OF SCUTTLE HOLE 

Beware all strangers where you roam 
Or leave the tranquil bliss of home; 
Ne'er at the peril of your soul. 
Plant foot in cursed Scuttle Hole. 

May Scuttle Hole not a blessing know, 
While water runs or grass shall grow ; 
But evils fall as fast as they can 
On ground accursed by God and man. 

The Judgment Day is rolling round, 
And Scuttle Hole shall hear the sound 
Of demons, who shall ring the knell, 

And Scuttle Hole go down to H ." * 

The "Brushy Plain," frequently mentioned in the early 
records, was right in the heart of the present village, 
and the late C. H. Hildreth bounded it as lying "between 
Norris Lane and Lumber Lane with the country road 

* News, Mar. 6, 1908. 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON Ql 

on the south and two pole highway across the great 
south division lots on the north." f Mr. Pelletreau (de- 
scribes it as "north and west of Dr. J. L. Gardiner's." 
(Afterward Dr. Corwith's. T. R., Vol. II, p. 339.) 

The village itself was called Bull Head, a name which 
is still very frequently heard in use locally, in spite of 
the fact that a writer in 1874 says that "the name is used 
to some extent but the refined spirit of the day has 
nearly abolished the frightful appellation." It has 
already been noted that Mecox at one time also covered 
this neighborhood, at least up to the Brushy Plain, for 
in the Records in 1706 permission is granted "to Build 
a windmill at Meacox upon ye triangle commons." 

We have already seen that in 1678 it was voted that 
Ezekiel Sandford was to have fifteen acres granted to 
him if he remained in the town seven years making cart 
wheels, and June 7, 1690, we find the record of the fif- 
teen acres having been laid out to him "at Hackers 
Hole," bounded south by the land he had bought of 
Robert Woolley, on the north by John Foster, on the 
east by land of Arthur Howell, and on the west by "ye 
common cartway" (now Ocean Road). The old house, 
now occupied by Miss Sherlock, probably dates from 
about this time. 

Evidently, however, Mr. Sandford could make other 
things beside cart wheels, for in 1686, he was commis- 
sioned to build the first bridge over Sagg Pond. The 
cost of construction was to be paid by the whole town, 
but the upkeep by Sagg and Mecox. As it is this bridge 
that probably gave to the united communities the name 
of Bridgehampton, I will quote the authorization in full. 
At a town meeting, held April i, 1686, it was concluded 
"by the Major vote that ye town in a general town Rate 
Including the whole town shall pay towards the build- 
ing of a bridge over Sagaponack Pond fifty pounds in 
pay, the Inhabitants of Sagaponack and Mecox to make 
t News, June 18, 1909. 



92 MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 

and to retain the said bridge forever at their own 
charge, and they are to make and maintain ye said 
bridge sufficient for either men, horses or cartes to 
pass over." (This was confirmed by the town assem- 
l)led Aug. 24, 1686.) He must have carried out his 
contract fairly promptly, for in a deed dated July 30, 
1691, he bought for 30 shillings "Seven poles of ground 
more or less lying at the west end of a certain road 
bridge lately erected by the said Ezekiel Sandford." 
This land and the bridge itself he started to deed to 
"The Inhabitants of Sagaponack and Mecox," for one- 
half of the deed is recorded but not the remainder. 

This bridge long stood connecting the two settle- 
ments, but was finally allowed to fall into decay, and 
disappeared. Sixty years or so ago there was nothing 
there, and about thirty years ago Silas Tuthill, who had 
come from Westhampton and bought land on Smith 
Corner, built, with the help of others, what was called 
a bridge, but was really rather a lightly built causeway. 
This went to pieces, and the present iron bridge was 
built some dozen years ago. 

At the same meeting (Aug. 24, 1686), at which the 
building of the bridge was ratified, it was also voted that 
the people of Sagg and Mecox, eastward of the Wading 
Place,* should be released from paying their proportion 
of the salary of the minister at Southampton, and should 
have a church of their own, as will be told more fully in 
the Chapter on the Church. 

By 1686. therefore, we find all the land divided and 
settled, except the Division of 1712, both Sagg and 
Mecox accounted as villages, the bridge built between 
them, a separate church contemplated, burial grounds 
located in both villages, a mill granted on Sagg Stream, 
and, if not quite then, a short time afterward, a tavern 
established at Bull Head. Of this inn, known as the 

* The Wading Place was the flat extending across Calves' Creek 
from about the end of Bay Lane. 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 93 

"Bull Head Tavern," and its keeper, John Wick, I shall 
write somewhat at length, for it illustrates a very curi- 
ous conflict of opinion and growth of local legend. 

First, let us make what we can of the recorded facts 
cf his life and character, those which are established 
beyond question. At first he lived in Southampton, and 
our earliest notice of him is April 4, 1693, when it was 
agreed in town meeting "that John Wick, serg Dresser" 
shoiuld have certain acreage and "our part of 
the Streame of the Little River Called by the name of 
ptaconnuck." * In 1700, in the excellent company of 
John Cook, Daniel Sayre, Jr., and Mr. Joseph Ford- 
ham, we find him making a protest against a certain 
individual land grant.f In 1707-9, among a lot of ear- 
marks (cattle markers) entered by many freemen, his 
name appears and, in a day when the title meant some- 
thing, he is the only one recorded as "Mr." John Wick.i 
and in February, 1696, as well as elsewhere, he is re- 
ferred to as "John Wick, gentleman." § In 171 1 a com- 
mittee was appointed by the town (by majority vote of 
the freemen as usual) to enquire into the ownership of 
the common land, and "Capt. Thomas Stephens, Capt. 
Theophilus Howell, Mr. John Wick, John Cook and 
James Cooper" were the five men appointed. || Here 
he is again in the best of company and appointed by pop- 
ular vote to a position of responsibility, as he was once 
more in 1712, when he was elected one of the Trustees. 1j 
In 1694 two lists were made up, one of those who had 
paid their "rates" for the clergyman's stipend and an- 
other showing the delinquents, and Wick appears on 

* T. R., Vol. II, p. 128. 
t T. R., Vol. II, p. 143. 
t T. R., Vol. II, p. 145. 
§ T. R., Vol. VI, p. 7. 
II T. R., Vol. II, p. 147. 
Tl T. R., Vol. II, p. 148. 



94 MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 

the lirst.* In 1712 there is record of his buying from 
John Parker, of Southampton, two Indian slaves. f In 
1706-7 James Emott, of New York, attorney at law and 
executor of the estate of Samuel Burt, merchant of that 
city, gave him power of attorney to collect money, % and 
in the same year Col. Abraham De Peyster, of New- 
York, also gave him his power of attorney, calling him 
"his loving friend, John Wick." § He was also a Mag- 
istrate from 1702 until his death, and Sheriff of Suffolk 
County from October, 1699, to October, 1700. In his 
v.'ill he states that "my will is that my son John be 
brought up to learning at college, and for that end I 
give to him to be sold by my executors in trust" certain 
described real estate. His other children then receive 
various bequests in real estate, and the will continues: 
"All my moveable property is to be sold at public auc- 
tion to the highest bidder within a year and a day, and 
the money to be iput out at interest foT six in the hundred 
rather than lye dead, for the support of my children 
until the youngest shall be 14 and be bound out to some 
trade. To my wife, Temperance [delightful name for 
an inn-keeper's wife !], I leave the use of the east end ot 
my house and one half of my cellar, and one-half of my 
well and one third of my real-estate." His executors 
were Mathias Burnett, Thomas Cooper, and Alexander 
Wilmot. It was witnessed by Theophilus Howell, 
Samuel Gelston, and Nathan Sayre, and dated Dec. 15, 
1 718. They were all good men and true, and one of 
them is especially mentioned as "my friend." As he 
died a month later, there is here evidence of his being 
in good company right up to the end. 

Just when he moved from Southampton to Bridge- 
hampton we do not know. The house in which he lived 
here, the Briggs house on the northwest of the four vil- 

* T. R., Vol. V, p. 40. 
t T. R., Vol. VI, p. 61. 
X T. R., Vol. VI, p. 31. 
§T. R., Vol. VI,p. 30. 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 95 

lage corners, and which now has 1685 placed in its 
chimney, was undoubtedly built at various times. It is 
likely, however, that he came over to this village some- 
vv^here between 1695 and 1700. He bought lots 14 and 
15 of the Forty Acre Division, and on 15 built, at an 
early date, the windmill which gave its name to Wind 
Mill Hill, and on 14 he had a burying ground for his 
slaves. The earliest recorded reference I have found to 
this mill is 171 2, but it was doubdess there much 
earlier.* 

He died in 1719 as recorded on his tombstone which 
reads as follows: "Here was layed the Body of Mr. 
John Wick, Esq., Who Dyed January the i6th, anno. 
1 719 in the 59th year of his age." He was buried in the 
rear of his own home lot about 30-40 rods north of 
Main Street and the same distance west of Lumber 
Lane. The stone was moved some years ago to the 
cemetery in Southampton by his descendant, Lemuel 
Wick, last of the name in the Town. 

The above are the recorded facts, and they indicate, 
if the recorded facts of history indicate anything, that 
here we have to do with a man highly esteemed and 
trusted in the community in which he lived, one of the 
highest officials of his Town and County, the companion 
of the soundest men in the society in which he moved, 
trusted in New York business circles, the loved friend 
of Col. De Peyster, a considerable property owner, and 
a thoughtful parent, providing for the one of his children 
he thought would most benefit by it, a college educa- 
tion, a thing so rare in those days as to appear in deeds 
and on tombstones. (In 1734, for example, Elias Petty, 
of Bridgehampton, sells to Silas White "one-half of my 
20 acres which I bought of Walter Wilmot, student at 
Yale College," etc.J In the same year, Walter Wilmot, 
"member of Yale College," sells certain property, t 

* See T. R., Vol. II, p. 163, and Vol. VI, p. 267. 
X T. R., Vol. VI, p. 180. 
fT. R., ibid. 



96 MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 

v/hile in the old Burying Ground at Sagg is a stone in- 
scribed "Here lies ye Body of Mr. Henry White, Stu- 
dent of Yale College, who died May 4th, 1748, in his 
23rd year.") 

Moreover, his children after him, apparently, con- 
tinued as respectable citizens, and above the average. 
John Wick got his college education provided for and 
graduated from Yale in 1722. 

Job, another son, built a house, which remained 
standing until very recent years, on the property left 
him in Southampton Village, J and it was his great 
grandson, Lemuel, who moved the tombstone of John 
Wick. * 

A third son. Henry, married Mary Cooper in 1725, 
and in 1737 is spoken of as "living near Bridgehampton 
on the way to Sagg." In 1746, together with Nathan 
Cooper, of Roxbury, N. J., he bought 1,114 acres on the 
Passaic River. At that time he was described as of 
"Sufifolk County," but had moved to Morristown, N. J., 
by 1748, when he bought out Nathan Cooper's interest, 
and added other property, making an estate in all of 
about 1,400 acres, on which he built "Wick Hall," about 
four miles south of Morristown, which was recently 
stated to be still standing, y 

The above record seems to me to be beyond reproach, 
and I entirely agree with Mr. Pelletreau in his estimate 
of the man's character. Nevertheless, the strange 
legends told of him are so deeply rooted in the minds 
of many that no evidence seems to shake belief in them, 
save, of course, the highly supernatural ones, and I will 
here note some of them, for they certainly form a part 

t This was on the south side of Hill Street, very near to the site 
of the house of the late Mr. Meade (1909, W. S. P.). 

* The line was Job, Zebulon, William, Lemuel. 

t Born Oct. 23, 1707; d. Dec. 21, 1780. His widow d. July 7, 1787. 
He was Capt. in Rev. War. F. E. Woodruff states that Wick Hall 
was at Washington Corner, N. J. 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 97 

cf the legendary if not the real history of Bridge- 
hampton. 

The first tale which I heard of him was in his capacity 
as inn keeper, and related that peddlers journeying 
through the village would put up there, and that more 
than one of that fraternity had been seen to enter the 
Tavern and never come out, that, in plain English, they 
were murdered by Mr. Wick for money. Another of 
the same type is, that near his windmill, already alluded 
to, he had a well dug in a spot still marked by a pile 
of pebbles, and employed for the purpose a very old 
negro slave, who dug and dug, deeper and deeper, but 
found no sign of water. The story relates that, pro- 
\oked by the lack of success and desirous of ridding 
himself of a superannuated slave, he himself shovelled 
in dirt while the poor slave was in the well hole, and 
buried him alive. 

In regard to his own burial having been on his owri 
land instead of in a cemetery, I have heard that a grave 
was dug for him in the old cemetery, but kept caving 
in, which was construed as an omen, and also that the 
authorities considered him so wicked that they would 
not allow him to be buried in any of the Burying 
Grounds. In the News, July 9, 1909, Mr. C. H. Hildreth 
w rote as follows : 

"Mr. Wick died in 17 19, making a provision in his 
will to be buried in the middle of a lot that never was to 
be sold but entailed forever. [The will disproves this 
absolutely.] They buried him in the middle of the lot 
out back of where the Library now stands and his grave 
stones stood there for many years until Mr. Schwenk 
took them up," [and gave them to Mr. Lemuel Wick]. 
"John Wick's son, wishing to sell the property got out 
a summons and read it over the grave, that if anyone 
had objections to the sale of this property to appear in 
court and make it known. No one appearing to object, 
they put it up at auction, but people appeared to be 



98 MEMORIALS OF OLD ERIDGEHAMPTON 

afraid to bid. Capt. Edward Topping, coming out of 
the woods on horseback, hearing the cry and not know- 
ing what was up, sung out in fun 'a penny more,' when 
down came the stick and he got all this property, as 
they said, for almost nothing ^(including the Augustus 
Corwith place which Wick owned). Capt. Topping did 
not know what to do with the property as no one would 
buy it, so he sold his own farm and went to live at the 
Corwith place." * 

I quote Mr. Hildreth, because he was usually a care- 
ful and accurate student of the history of his village, 
but even he seems to have fallen under the spell of the 
Wick legend. 

The story of the auction and Capt. Topping I have 
also heard told in relation to a farm in Sagg. As to 
the rest of the tale, the only true points seem to be that 
Wick was buried on his own land, although no mention 
VN^iatever is made in his will or any other paper, and that 
his moveable property was sold at auction. Why he 
was buried on his own land I cannot, of course, say, 
but it was a common enough custom where there was 
no burying ground in the immediate vicinity, as any 
number of single graves or group of graves here and all 
over Long Island testify. So common was the custom 
of burying on private land, and by private funeral as 
well, at the west end of the Island that laws were passed 
forbidding it by the Colonial Legislature in 1664 and 
1684, although never enforced. In Mecox, although 
Anthony Ludlam was buried in Mecox Cemetery in 
1681, we read in 1684, i" a deed of that date, of "Widow 

* The article continues: "It was there he shot the British soldier 
who was crawling in at night. His son, Abram Topping, lived at 
the corner house. I think the next owner of the place [Tavern] 
was David Topping, of Sagaponack. He set up his son, Mulford 
Topping, in the hotel business, but he did not make a success of it. 
I have seen a deed whereby David Topping and his wife, Rekah, 
conveyed this property to Solomon Grey. It was in the Grey 
family until they sold it to Hiram S. Rogers. I think the parties 
I have named are the only ones who have owned the place, but 
there have been a number of transient tenants." 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BKIDGEHAMPTON 99 

Sarah Cooper's grave lot of land upon Mecox plain." * 
At the north end of the road built about thirty years or 
so ago, running from Mecox Road to Paul's Lane in 
front of Mr. Augustus Cook's, there were several graves 
of Halseys, one of whom, I am told, had died from 
Small Pox. Before the road was put through, the 
stones were moved to Mecox Burying Ground, but not 
the bodies, over which the road now passes. 

At the time Wick died, probably neither Hay Ground, 
Poxabogue, nor the "Old" Cemetery had been opened, 
for there are no stones in any of these for a number of 
years subsequent to his death, and there is nothing- 
strange about his interment. 

Among the other stories told of him are of his pos- 
sessing magic powers and supernatural gifts; that when • 
his grave was being filled ants dug out the earth as 
rapidly as it was put in; and that some men of the vil- 
lage, fishing ofT the coast at the moment of his death, 
saw the devil carrying his black soul through the air, 
seaward. 

While, as I have said, the supernatural tales are no 
longer seriously credited, the belief that the man was 
wicked through and through and the perpetrator of 
many crimes is deeply rooted in the community. Not 
quiite 200 years have elapsed -since bis death. If he was 
all that his record indicates, how is it possible that this 
mass of legend and fable should have gathered around 
his name in a place where he was so well-known and 
where, for long years after his death, reducing to a com- 
paratively short period the time for the growth of 
legend, his career and reputation must have been so well 
remembered by his friends and neighbors in so small 
a community? A large land owner, a man styled "gen- 
tleman" in the public records, a Justice of the Peace, a 
Sheriff of the County, a man representing leading New 
York interests and a dear friend of one of the most 



* T. R., Vol. V, p. 223. 



100 MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 

noted social figures of that city, must have been a very 
prominent figure indeed in the Bridgehampton of 1719. 
In every authentic reference to him for a period of 24 
years to the day of his death, we find him beyond re- 
proach, undeniably respected and trusted by his friends 
and neighbors, and yet, firmly believed by their de- 
scendants to have been a fiendish criminal. What the 
solution is, I do not know, but the case of John Wick, 
Esq., Sheriff of Suffolk County, is quite the most curious 
thing I have found in Bridgehampton. 

While speaking of the Tavern, I will here quote, a 
little out of its chronological order, a description of it 
and of one of its later keepers somewhat more than a 
hundred years after Wick was the host there.* 
' "After Solomon Grey died, Dick Gelston married his 
v.'idow and kept the house, or the house kept him. My 
first impression of Dick Gelston is of a rather short 
man with a pleasant good-natured face, lounging across 
the street to Robert Halsey's store, with both hands 
in his pockets rattling silver dollars. 

"The front of the house was much the same as it is 
now, but not so clean and bright. The street came up 
to the doorstep, and there was a driveway across the 
west end, west of which there was a long horse shed. A 
large buttonwood tree stood out in the street, upon 
which hung a creaking sign with a bull's head painted 
on it, hence the name of Bull's Head. 

"In the east front room was the bar where they dealt 
out the rum, a "short horn" two fingers deep, a "long 
horn" four fingers deep, and for "a good stiff horn" they 
put on the thumb. They used to say that there had 
been rum enough drank in that room to float a seventy- 
four-ton sloop. 

"Upstairs was a tier of bedrooms with moveable par- 
titions, which they took down when they had balls; 
they also used it for a court room when they had a law- 

* C. H. Hildreth, News, Aug. 20, 1909. 



MEMORIALS J)F OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON \()\ 

suit, which they used to have more frequently in the 
good old times some long for, than now. 

"It might be interesting to know how John Wick 
would get a barrel of New England rum from Boston — 
perhaps some would think by sloop from Sag Harbor, 
but there was no Sag Harbor then. It was the 'Great 
Meadow,' where they used to mow their hay.* Ac- 
cording to the best accounts Sag Harbor was not settled 
until ten or twelve years after John Wick was planted 
in the middle of that eight-acre field. The sloop would 
bring the rum and other goods to North West, where 
East Hampton had a landing, while Southampton had 
a landing at North Sea." 

At that time there was direct communication between 
East Hampton and England by ship, the harbor being. 
as said, at North West, as we know from a bill of lading 
in the Town Records (S. H., Vol. Ill, p. 400), dated 
Hast Hampton, July 25, 1693. This was for the church 
bell of Southampton, which was "not only cracked but 
too little," and was being sent home to England to be 
exchanged for a bigger one, on board "the good Shipe 
friends Adventure," consigned to Mr. Walter Mico, 
merchant in London. The new bell was shipped from 
England the next year on the "European" by the same 
route. 

In John Wicks' day, the Bulls Head Tavern faced 
on what has always been known as the Triangular 

♦Tradition places the founding of Sag Harbor (originally so- 
called because it was the harbor of Sagg), about 1730, but men- 
tion is made of the place in 1707. which would seem to indicate 
that it was used as a landing place by that date. In or about 
1712, when Wick was living in the Tavern, Edward Howell was 
living in his house in Poxabogue, and Judge Hedges thought 
these were the two most northern houses at that time. Howell 
was a merchant, and for facility in landing his goods, cut a road 
through the woods to North-West, still known as "Marchant's 
Path." 

In 1718 Samuel Johnes was already living at Scuttle Hole 
supposedly on the north-east side of the land that lies southeast 
from that of the late Stephen C. Haines. (T. R., Vol. II. p. 184) 
and the old Haines house is now thought to have been built in 
1679. 



102 MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 

Commons, which Mr. Hildreth described as " a tract 
extending from Mr. McCaslin's place to Mr. Chester's 
store on the east, and from there to the grave yard on 
the north, then along the east side of the grave yard to 
the Presbyterian church yard. The private burial plots 
were part of the Common." 

As I have already noted, in 1706, Capt. Theophilus 
Howell, Elisha Howell, Lemuel Howell, and Jeremiah 
Halsey were granted the right to build a windmill on 
this 'triang'le. 

"Tradition says," (I again quote the late Mr. Hil- 
dreth), "that this plot of ground was given for a parade 
ground. Here the residents of this section met three 
times a year, armed and equipped as the law directed, 
to drill in military tactics. First, the officers had their 
training; a few days later those between 18 and 45 who 
w ere liable to military duty were called out and they 
had company training. Each man must have a flint 
lock musket that would strike fire, with a bayonet to 
fit it, and a cartridge box. Later they had general train- 
ing, when the companies from Southampton, East 
Hampton, Sag Harbor and Bridgehampton all met to- 
gether. They used to have some jolly times in the after- 
noon after they had made sundry calls at the old Bulls 
Head Tavern." 

When one thinks of that wonderfully lovely Com- 
mon along the Main Street in East Hampton and of 
the Triangular Commons at Water Mill with its pic- 
turesque old vine-clad wind mill, one regrets in vain 
that Briidgehampton allowed its ibirthright to 'be sold, 
and sacrificed forever t(he beauty that it possessed as 
well as its neighbors. 

In a census of the Town, taken in 1698, Mr. Howell 
in his history (p. 34) states as his opinion that all names 
from No. 270 on were inhabitants of Sagg and Mecox, 
and in this Judge Hedges agreed with him. * If this is 

* Address, Story of a Celebration, p. 52. 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 



103 



SO, it would give Bridgehampton at that date 1 19 males and 
103 females, a population of 222, which was a little more 
than one-third of the entire population of Southampton 
Town. In the town on that date there were also enu- 
merated 83 negroes and about 152 Indians. The names 
of the male residents of the Bridgehampton district are 



given below : 
Samuell Barbur 
Aron Burnet 
Aaron Burnett, Jr. 
Dan Burnot 
Ichabod Burnut 
Dan Burnot, Jr. 
Moses Burnot 
Richard Cooper 
Thomas Cooper 
Thomas Cooper, Jr. 
Ellis Cook 
John Cook 
John Cook, Jr. 
Ellias Cook 
Obadia Cook 
Ellijah Cook 
Thomas Diamond 
Charles fordham 
Bennony fflint 
John fflint 
James ffoster 
Abraham Halsey 
David Halsey 
Jeremiah Halsey 
Jeremiah Halsey, Jr. 
Lenard Haris 
Lift. Theophilus Howell 
Theophilus Howell, Jr. 
Cilley Howell 
Elisha Howell 
Lemuell Howell 
Josiah Hand 
James Hildreth 
James Hildreth, Jr. 
Joshua Hildreth 
James Herick 
James Haines 
Samuell Haines 
Humphry Huse 
Abner Huse 
Uriah Huse 
Jedadia Huse 
John Huse 
Anthony Ludlom 
Ensn. John Lupton 



Christopher Lupton 

Benjn. Lupton 

Samuell Loome 

Mathew Loome 

Samuell Loome 

Joseph More 

Joseph More 

Benj'n More 

John Michill 

John Michill, Jr. 

Jonathan Miles 

John Masen 

Isaac Mills 

Isaac Mills. Jr. 

John Morehouse 

John Morehouse, Jr. 

Robt. Noris, Jun. 

Oliver Noris 

Peter Noris 

Benony Nutton 

Benj'n Nuton 

Isaac Nuton 

Jonathan Nuton 

John Nuton 

John Parker 

Edward Petty 

Edward Pety, Jun. 

Ellnathan Petty 

Left. Coll. Henry Peirson 
John Peirson 
David Peirson 
Theophilus Peirson 
Abraham Peirson 
Josiah Peirson 
Theoder Peirson 
Theoder Peirson 
Martine Rose 
Israeli Rose 
William Rose 
David Rose 
James Rose 
David Rose, Jr. 
Jonah Rogers 
Jonah Rogers 
Rogers 



104 MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 

Nathaniell Resco, Jr. Capt. Elnathan Topping 

Natha: Resco Stephen Topping 

Pe'^gSne'stanbrough Si"-""^« Topping 

James Stanbrough Josiah Topping 

John Stanbrough Josiah Topping, Jun, 

John Stanbrough, Jr. Hezekia Topping 

Daniell Sayre, Jr. Mr. Ebenezer White 

Daniel Sayre, Terts. Elnath. White 

Ezekiel Sanford Jacob Wood 

Ezekiel Sanford, Jr. Doct. Nath, Wade 

Thomas Sanford Simon Wade 

Jonathan Strickling Alexander Wilmott 

William Tarbill Joseph Wickham 

William Tarbill, Jr. Joseph Wickham, Jun. 

In 1698, the population of Suffolk County was 2,679 

(of which 2,121, were white), the white population of 

Southampton Town 738, and of Bridgehampton 222. 

In 1683, when Suffolk was erected into a county, the 

assessed valuation of Southampton Town was £16,328 

. 06 . 08. 



CHAPTER VI 
EARLY GOVERNMENT AND CUSTOMS 

We have thus traced the growth of the settlement 
and its offshoots for three quarters of a century from 
1640 to 1715, and seen it steadily increase in numbers 
and material prosperity. Let us now consider a little 
what the life of these busy men and women was like 
while the work of subduing the wilderness, clearing the 
forest, building villages and founding a state was being 
carried on by them. 

"It is not with us as with men whom small things can 
discourage or small discontentments cause to wish them- 
selves at home again," wrote Brewster from New Eng- 
land, and that same spirit breathes through the early 
records of those who founded the Hamptons. As we 
read the quaint old entries, and little by little there 
grow up in our minds vivid impressions of the men of 
those days, we realize that, though here as in every hu- 
man community, there were a great variety of types 
and an endless number of differing personalities, yet 
that the spirit of courage and perseverance animated 
them all, and no hand was lifted from the plow, no voice 
was raised in discouragement, no deserter beat his re- 
treat, after the work was under way. 

In living with them, as I almost feel I have been doing 
these months of poring over the records they have left, I 
have been mainly impressed by four elements in their 



10(3 MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 

lives and characters, the courage and perseverance 1 
have just mentioned, their Anglo-Saxon ability to gov- 
ern themselves, the strength of their belief in God, and 
the very human quality of their virtues and their vices. 
Of the government, I shall speak presently, and I need 
here lay no stress upon the religious aspect of Puritan 
New England, which has in the past been so over- 
stressed as to have created in many minds an impression 
of a religion so terrible and uncompromising, developing 
natures so stern and unyielding, as to have ceased 
almost to be human. 

But they were very human, these fathers of the set- 
tlement. Stern they had to be, for the work was stern. 
To leave a home where their ancestors had lived for gen- 
erations, to face the perils of storm and sea, of wilder- 
ness and savage foe, not for themselves alone but for 
their wives and children as well, was no life for those 
who ioved io lie in 'fhe sun or to take their ease in their 
inn. But they were as just as they were stern as the 
records of their Courts show, both in their dealings 
ymong themselves and in those with the Indians. Many 
entries prove the latter, from the payment for "the dam- 
age dun by that hogg to the Indians," * to the title deeds 
tor the land. If the idle and the vagabonds were not 
permitted to remain, nevertheless for those who had 
tried but had been overcome by unavoidable misfor- 
tune, their hearts and purses were ever open, and they 
themselves willing to labor. We have already seen that 
Josias Stanborogh left £5 in his will for the poor, and 
John Cooper, in his, leaves "unto the poor of said town 
a mare foal, the best that one of the first come up." t 
When some of their houses were burned by a few crim- 
inal Indians, and the families rendered homeless, money 
v/as instantly given for immediate needs and labor 
granted for rebuilding, while on March 11, 1679-80 oc- 

* T. R., Vol. I, p. 145. 
t T. R., Vol. II, p. 25. 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 107 

curs the worthy recond "Received of Mr. John fifoster 
the some of eighteen pounds fifteen shillings it being 
the free will offering given by the towne of Southamp- 
ton towards the Reliefe of the Captives which is in 
slavery in Turkey." f 

Although in this case we find their charity going so 
far a-field, yet, as a rule, but little news came to them 
from the outside world, and that infrequently. For 
the most part, as far as topics of thought and conversa- 
tion went, the settlers were living in a world of their 
own, and I think this isolation accounts for several 
things not otherwise readily understood. Everything 
assumed enormous importance in the daily life of the 
colony from there being no standard other than that of 
local interest. Thus, the position of the leaders of the 
colony in relation to the social life which formed their 
environment, and which was the only standard consid- 
ered, was as great as that of the leaders of public life in 
England, and thus came about the fondness for titles, 
the "Mr.," "Mrs.," "Deacon," "Gent," "Justice of the 
Peace," and others that we find carved on the old tomb- 
stones. These men were the leaders of their little world, 
and well entitled to their hardly earned and usually de- 
served distinctions, distinctions, it must be remembered; 
far more surely indicative of individual worth than 
those gained in a more complex environment. 

This over emphasis on local affairs and the magnify- 
ing of small matt ens wihich loomed so great in their 
limited range of interests, with, perhaps, unconsciously 
the added strain of nerves due to the constant anxiety 
of living, actually and metaphorically "under arms," ac- 
counted also, I think, for the innumerable petty law 
suits for trespass, slander, etc., of which this early period 
is so full. We know, today, how loneliness, overwork, 
or too much concentration on small detail will some- 
times warp a man's sense of proportion and lead him 

t T. R., Vol. II, p. 102. 



108 MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 

to take offense at matters he would not dream of seri- 
ously resenting under normal conditions, and perhaps 
the early colonists are not too hardly to be blamed if 
they did not often enough take the advice given by a 
witness in a most delightful early suit for slander in 
East Hampton, that the plaintiff should "take noe heede 
to him for he will mock his ffriend in a merry way." * 

Petty lawsuits, as stated, were frequent, and a prison 
provided for as early as 1645,! while the stocks, erected 
in 1648,1 and the whipping post also, were certainly "for 
use rather than for ostentation," as is shown by more 
than one bill for repairs. Nevertheless, serious crimes 
were extraordinarily infrequent. I can recall no case of 
murder, except one by an Indian, no theft of anything 
but tools, etc., and very small sums, no case of arson, 
and but very few cases of any sort wherein the crime 
mvolved was grave. 

Fruit stealing, if by persons under sixteen, was to be 
punished by the whipping of the culprit by the parents 
"before some sufficient spectator,"§ or double paymen: 
of the damage. Lying, if proved by two witnesses, was 
punished by fining the offender 5s, "& if he have not 
to pay hee shall sit in the stox 5 howres." || While a 
number of things were accounted worthy of punishment 
which we ignore today, the punishments, allowing for 
the shifting of emphasis on the relative importance 'of 
different matters in that day, were not heavy, and as a 
rule not what we, even today, would consider barbarous. 
Even being found asleep when in charge of the watch 
in 1643 ^^^ punished only by "4 lashes of the whip 
or else forthwith paye ten shillings."! Per- 

* E. H., T. R., Vol. I, p. 120. 
t S. H., T. R., Vol. I, p. 37. 

X T. R., Vol. I, p. 53. The stocks and the whipping post were not 
abolished until 1811. 
§ T. R., Vol. I, p. 74. 
II Ibid, p. 96. 
1 Ibid, p. 27. 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 109 

haps what came nearest to it was the sentencing of a 
certain woinan "for exorbitant words of imprecations 
to stand with her tongue in a cleft stick so long as the 
offense committed by; her was read and declared," This 
lady seems to have had a pretty gift of eloquence of a 
certain sort, for on another occasion there was a cross- 
action at law between her and another which the Magis- 
trates settled in a Solomon-like judgment by ac- 
quitting both, "the one set against the other as equiva- 
lent in bad language each to the other" ! 

On page 3 of the original records is a most curious 
and blood curdling "Abstract of the Laws of Judge- 
ment," etc., said to be in the handwriting of the Rev. 
Abraham Pierson, the first minister. While part of it 
is missing, yet there are of the remainder 15 crimes pun- 
ishable wi'th death, among them being profaning the 
Lord's Day, and, horrible enough, "Rebellious children, 
whether they continue in Riot or Drunkenesse, after due 
correction from parents, or whether they curse or Smite 
their parents are to bee put to death." * This code, 
however, was never enforced and apparently no heed 
ever paid to it, the citizens proving themselves more 
humane, as well as politically jvist and far-sighted, than 
their pastor. 

The men in the colony, however, were bold of spirit, 
c f strong views and decided opinions. They had sacri- 
ficed almost everything else for liberty of thought and 
expression, and it is not strange, therefore, that we find 
the leaders themselves sometimes fined for "unreverent 
carriage" in the face of the authority they themselves 
had constituted, and by their sterling characters and 
love of liberty were giving their lives to maintain. If, 
however, one of them is fined 5 shillings "for some pas- 
sionate expressions," and another "for hindering the 
quiet proceedings of the court and causing them to lose 
their tyme by his willful obstinacy," while, again, one 

* T. R., Vol. I, p. 20, ff. 



110 MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 

of the most revered figures of all is sentenced to a fine 
of "lo shillings and to be of good behaviour for miscar- 
riage in threatening that yf any man should strike his 
dogge he would knock him downe," nevertheless, these 
men all had the inherited English reverence for law, 
and the little ship of their tiny and isolated common- 
wealth rode every storm in safety. 

There was no authority over them save such as they 
themselves set up and maintained, and the Town Meet- 
ing was at once the Executive, the Legislature and the 
Judiciary. All freemen not only could, but were re- 
quired to, attend under penalty of fine, and to vote on 
every question either for or against.* Our fathers, 
wiser than we, recognized the lurking danger in a de- 
mocracy, and required every man to do his share when 
called upon. It was not even optional whether one 
should be a freeman or not, for it was decreed in 1647 
that "if any man be chosen to bee freeman of this towne 
shall refuse it, shall pay 40 shillings for his fine." f One 
had to attend meetings and, if elected to of^ce, was 
fined if he declined. Truly, the of^ce sought the man ! 

The Town Meeting was not only the forum for de- 
bate of all matters, but it was also, as stated, the Gen- 
eral Court, vvihich among other things was empowered 
"to cal'l and oridayne Magistrates and ofher officers," 
"to ordayne Ministers of Justice to attadh, fetch and 
sett persons before the Magistrates and to execute the 
Censures of the Court upon the offenders," etc., "to 
make and re'peale Law€S," "to dmipose a levy of Mon- 
nies for the publicik service." and "to heare and deter- 
mine all causes whether civill or criminal wherein ap- 
]jeale iSihaLl ibe made unto them or which they shall see 
cause to assume in their cogniscence and Judicature." % 

As a matter of fact no list of powers would suf^ce to 

* T. R., Vol. I, p. 30. 
t T. R., Vol. I, p. 49. 
: T. R., Vol. I, p. 25, ff. 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON \\\ 

state w:hat it could do, for it was in itself the supreme 
power. By force of circumstances there was nothing 
higher to appeal to, and although I could readily cover 
severalpages with a partial list of the things it did do, 
it would not, I think, be overstatement to say that it 
could and did do everything which a sovereign power 
imder the conditions of time and place would find it 
necessary or convenient to do. It laid out land, made 
grants, directed highways, tried cases, enforced pun- 
ishments, levied fines and taxes, appointed delegates to 
Connecticut, administered estates and appointed guar- 
dians, built a prison and a church, controlled the whaling 
enterprise and legislated as to the trespassing of "little 
pigges," regulated relations with the Indian Tribes and 
arranged for the sweeping out of the meeting house, and 
so on through an infinitude of matters great and small. 
One of these other duties was to decide on the accep- 
tance or rejection of newcomers. Even in the case of 
transient strangers bonds were required from their 
hosts, for we find in 1691 "if any person shall entertain 
any stranger or transient person for more than twenty 
days, he shall give a bond to the Town Clerk to save the 
town from all damage, or pay 40s for each twenty days' 
default, except such person bring to the town with them 
£20 value." * But a permanent resident or a land 
owner was a much more serious matter, and we find as 
early as 1655 that it was ordered "that noe Inhabitant 
within the boundes of this towne shall sell his howse 
and land or any part thereof unto any person yt is a 
forrainer, at any time henceforward except the person 
bee such as the town do like of." f This power was 
constantly exercised, as well as the correlative one of 
banishment, but the right of discrimination seems to 
have been used solely in reference to good citizenship 
and to have had no religious bearing, and, considering 

* T. R., Vol. II, p. 181. 
tT. R., Vol. I, p. 111. 



112 MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 

the pains they had suffered to estabhsh the settlement, 
as well as the danger to it if individuals proved too obsti- 
nately refractory, it was a power they were well entitled 
to wield. 

Besides the General Court, it was early ordered 
(1641)1 that there should be four Quarter C6urts a 
year, in March, June, September and December. Dig- 
nity and good order were provided for in various enact- 
ments, such as that of 1645, when it was ordered that 
"noe person . . . shall speake . . . unless he 
bee uncovered'' . . . "durling the tyime of his 
speech, and not to move or speake to any other matter 
or business, untill the former matter in hand be ended," 
etc.* 

A Grand Jury to bring indictments as well as the 
Petty Jury for trial cases was established. Almost 
every matter in the town was decided by majority vote, 
and for long this obtained in the jury as elsewhere. 

We soon find many matters being ordained by "the 
five men that are chosen to order towne affayres," and 
this permanent body, varying somewhat in numbers 
from time to time, and usually elected annually, con- 
tinued an integral part of the town government. 

As need arose, various of^cials, such as JNIarshal, Sec- 
retary, or Clerk (wiho got 4 shillings a year), Town 
Treasurer, Magistrates, of course, Constables, Captains 
of the Train Bands, Layers Out of Land, Overseers of 
the Poor, Notary Public, etc., were appointed. The 
of^ce of Constable was one of the highest in the early 
days, and later, under the Duke's Laws, the highest 
local court was that of "the Court of the Constable and 
Overseers," but it declined little by little, until replaced 
in importance by that of County Sheriff. 

One feature of the early courts and multiplicity of 
lawsuits was the complete absence of lawyers, which not 

t T. R., Vol. I, p. 24. 
* T. R., Vol. I, p. 37. 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 113 

only rendered law much cheaper, but apparently more 
amusing. 

A more serious lack in the community, however, 
must have been that of doctors, for it is thought that 
there were none here for a half century. The first rec- 
ord that I can find indicating a resident physician is in 
the list of inhabitants already given as of 1698, when 
Dr. Nathaniel Wade appears, living in Bridgehampton. 
He does not seem to have been invariably successful, 
however, in his prescriptions, for in 1701 the town had 
him treat a woman prisoner, "and Dr. Wade adminis- 
tered something and let her blood, and we found that 
she was never the better, so we bade him forbear to 
meddle with her any more." * 

One feature of those early days was that everybody 
M^orked, and Mr. Pelletreau makes the statement that 
until the Revolution there was not a man or woman in 
Southampton who did not earn their daily bread by 
daily labor. Rich as well as poor toiled daily with their 
hands, either in the fields or at their trade. There were 
no "learned professions," and even the minister "farmed 
it," although provided with what was then a comfortable 
income. Work thus soon became an ingrained habit 
and a matter of pride, which may have had something 
to do in the earliest days with delaying the building of 
schools, although a regular school was apparently estab- 
lished in 1655, and there had, of course, been teaching 
before that. 

Social distinctions were, if anything, more marked 
than now, but not in work for the community. A curi- 
ous example of democracy in public work is the record 
of July 7, 1645, wherein it is ordered that "the Meeting 
Howse shall be sweeped upon the last day of every 
weeke, of each ITamily by turnes . . . and each 
family from the ist of October to the 15th of Aprill 
shall by turne lykewise make a fire in the meeting howse 

* T. R., Vol. V, pp. 161, 163. 



1 1 4 MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 

upon each 'Sabath *daye" in default of fine.* 

All labor was not free, however, and slaves were 
early used, Indian as well as colored, in addition to the 
indentured servants. As it was long doubted whether 
there were any Indian slaves on Long Island, I may 
here say that records here and elsewhere establish it 
beyond question. In 171 2 John Parker sold John Wick 
"One Indian woman — Sarah, and one Indian boy — 
/vbel" for £21, 12s, f There are a number of references 
in the East Hampton records to Indians who sold them- 
selves as servants or apprentices for a term of years, 
and these could be sold to others just as though they 
were slaves. That some, however, were slaves for life 
is shown by the will of James Parshall, of Southold, in 
1692, in which after leaving several Indians to members 
of his family, he adds "my will is yt & if my two grown 
Indian slaves do serve faithfully five years that then and 
not else they shall be free." % The colored slaves were 
largely imported from Africa by way of the West 
Indies. There were many held here, and I am told the 
drains all through Sagg Swamp were made by slave 
labor. Under the Act of 1788, however, providing for 
manumission, although requiring the slave to be under 
fifty and able to support himself, many slaves through- 
out the town were freed, and the Records are full of 
such entries in the early part of the last century. 

As is well known, white servants were also indentured 
for a term of years at that time, and could likewise be 
sold for the unexpired term of the contract. That ap- 
prentices were not always satisfactory, then as now, and 
that the master's patience sometimes had an end is 
shown by record in 1694: "Then Ezekiel Sandford 
came and did declare to me as Justice of the Peace that 

* T. R., Vol. I, p. 37. The Sabbath began Saturday at sundown and 
ended Sunday at sundown, as in New Engalnd. 
t T. R., Vol. VI, p. 61. 
j Early Long Island Wills. Pelletreau. 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 115 

his man Edward was not capable of larning a trade and 
desired me to enter itt upon Record." * 

Agriculture was, of course, the main industry of the 
young- settlement, supplemented by whaling, which will 
be treated in a later chapter, and by fishing. Fish of all 
kinds were extraordinarily abundant, as many of the 
early writers testify, from the almost incredible supply 
of the small ''ale-wives" to the larger varieties. So 
plenty were the former that Capt. John Smith tried to 
scoop them out of the water in his frying pan, but ad- 
mits that it made but poor tackle. Mecox Bay was 
especially full of fish of various sorts, eels, and oysters, 
and in 1676 John Cooper was given exclusive privileges 
m that water for four years "for the taking of perch and 
other small fish for salting."f That they continued 
very abundant until comparatively recent years is 
shown by some old bills paid to Mr. John L. Cook for 
fish caught a little over 40 years ago and shipped to the 
firm of Rogers, Wooley & Co., Fulton Market. On 
Sept. 9, 1871, he shipped 222 lbs. of eels; Sept. 12, 202 
lbs.; Sept. 13, 413 lbs.; Sept. 14, 210 lbs. On Nov. 15, 
1872, he shipped 493 lbs. flounders and 62 lbs. of bass, 
and on Nov. 17, 100 lbs. of flounders and 408 lbs. of 
bass.f 

In connection with the subject of eeling there was a 
rather amusing story told some half century ago, of a 
somewhat avaricious old lady in one of our neighboring 
villages. Her husband was a fisherman, and during a 
storm his boat was upset and he was drowned, the boat 
only floating ashore. A few months later his body was 
found in 10 feet of water by some boys and brought 
ashore, the clothing being found to be full of eels. The 
report of this fact was sent up to her, with the request 
to know what should be done. Whereupon the word 

* T. R., Vol. II, p. 319, 

X T. R., Vol. II, p. 67. 

t Given in full in News, Aug. 26, 1904. 



116 MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 

promptly went back : "Bring up the eels and set him 
again !" 

To go back to the serious business of farming in the 
early days, 1 quote from an address from Judge Hedges 
in 1885.1 "Grass was cut with the scythe, raked by a 
handrake, pitched by the old heavy iron fork; grain 
was reaped with the sickle, threshed with the flail and 
nuinowed with a riddle; land was ploughed with a heavy 
wooden framed plough, pointed with wrought iron, 
whose mole board was protected by odd bits of old cart 
wheel tire ; harrows were mostly made with wooden 
teeth; corn hills were dug with the hoe; the manure for 
the hill was dropped in heaps, carried by hand in a bas- 
ket and separately put in each hill. The farmer raised 
tiax and generally a few sheep. Threshing lasted well 
into the winter, and then out came the crackle and 
swingle, knife and board. The flax was dressed, wool 
carded, and the wheel sung to the linen and woolen 
spun in every house. The loom's dreary pound gave 
e\ idence that home manufacture clad the household. 
From his feet to his head the farmer stood in vestment 
produced in his own farm. The leather of his shoes 
came from the hides of his own cattle; the linen and 
woolen that he wore were products that he raised. The 
farmer's wife or daughter braided and sewed the straw 
hat on his head. His fur cap was made from the skin of 
a fox he shot. The feathers of wild fowl in the bed 
whereon he rested his weary frame by night were the 
lesults acquired in his shooting. The pillow- cases, 
sheets and blankets, the comfortable quilts and counter- 
panes, the towels and table cloth were home made. His 
harness and lines he cut from hides grown on his farm. 
Everything about his ox yoke, except staple and ring, 
he made. His whip, his ox-goad, his flail, axe, hoe, and 
fork handle were his own work." 

These conditions remained practically unchanged 

$ Bi-Centennial of Suffolk Co., p. 42. 



MEMORIALS H^F OLD BRIDGEHAMFTON 117 

until 1783, and explain the minuteness of bequest and 
record in early wills and inventories, from which we 
gain so clear an idea of the domestic economy of the 
times. 

"All day )he labored in the fields," says the Judge on 
another page, speaking of the early settler. "In the 
long" autumn and winter evenings he husked corn and 
shelled the ears over the edge of his spade. No horse- 
rake; no corn sheller ; no horse pitch fork; no horse 
mower or reaper; — the life of the farmer was literally 
a battle against the forces of nature for little more than 
the actual necessities of subsistence and with the most 
rude and unwieldy supply of weapons for the war. The 
monotony of his life was relieved by hunting and fishing 
in their season. The farmer raised rye and corn, rarely 
wheat, for bread. He ate fresh pork, while it lasted, and 
salt pork while that lasted. Corn was pounded into 
samp; ground into hominy and meal; baked or boiled 
into johnny-cake, Indian bread, griddle cakes, pudding, 
or what the Dutch called "sup pawn" and the Yankees 
"hasty pudding" ; and in a variety of ways eaten with or 
without milk. In some shape corn was a chief article 
of diet, rye bread the chief bread and wheat bread a 
rare luxury. Oysters, clams, eels and other fish, with 
game of the forest or fowl of the air, helped out the 
supply of food." 

Of the larger game, deer were plenty, and bears were 
at least occasionally killed. The panther, called lion by 
the early settlers, added to the uncertainties of berrying 
in the woods, while for years an unending war had to 
be maintained against the wolves. In 1649 the Town 
offered 20 shillings a head for wolves killed in the Town 
limits,* which rose to 30s in 1651 to be paid to the 
mighty hunter of his day, Robert Mervin, of whom the 
record says that "in consideration of his care and 
paines about the killing of wolves by setting of guns or 

* T. R., Vol. I, p. 31. 



118 MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMFTON 

v/atching or otherwise, he shall have 30s per woolfe for 
every one it appears hee killeth, provided that if any 
beast [cattle] be killed in probability by the wolves, and 
hee the said Robert have notice thereof that he repaire 
unto the place where the sd. beast is slaine, whether at 
Meacocks or Sagaponack or elsewhere f • • • alsoe 
if it happen at any time hee the sd. Robert bee warned 
to any cort or meeting during the time he is upon the 
forsaid design, that hee shall bee discharged and ac- 
quitted from such meeting," % etc. 

Many subsequent entries prove that these beasts con- 
tinued for many years to be a serious pest.§ The so- 
called "dogs" of the Indians were practically nothing 
but young wolves trained up, and were likewise a con- 
stant source of annoyance if not of danger to the settlers, 
which accounts for the entry in 1718, following other 
milder ones, that it is "Ordered that ye Indians shall be 
fetched up to kill their Dogs ferwith by a warrant from 
ye Justis." * 

As has been stated earlier, the relations with the 
Indians were remarkably peaceful, but underneath the 
surface there was frequent intriguing, as well as direct 
and indirect danger from the fiercer Pequots and Narra- 
gansetts, who were foes to the whites and other Indians 
alike. Individual crimes occasionally occurred, such as 
the burning of some houses already alluded to, and the 
murder of Mrs. Halsey in 1649, but although these were 
exceedingly infrequent, peace was bought at the price 
not only of a scrupulous justice, but of constant armed 
vigilance as well. The earliest houses had palisades 
built around them, and there are innumerable entries to 
show the existence of constantly trained troops, in 
which all had to serve, even the Meeting House being 

t This proves pasturing in those places at that date. 
% T. R., Vol. I, p. 81. 

§ In 1791 a bounty of 4s was offered for every fox. T. R., Vol. 
Ill, p. 333. 

* T. R., Vol. V, p. 84. 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 119 

always guarded during service. Thus in 1642 it was 
ordered that "the Company of the Town of Southamp- 
ton shall be trayned six tymes in the yeare . 
and that the Inhabitants of this towne from sixteene 
years old and upwards shall beare Armes." f In 1645, 
for the protection of the Meeting House it was ordered 
that "one side of the town shall beare Armes on the 
Lord's daye, and the other side of the towne shall beare 
Armes the next Lord's daye, etc.," % while in 1647 '^^^ 
men 16 yeares to 60 yeares except Magistrates, minis- 
ters and Constable and Clarke shall beare armes with 
guns powder and shot compleat upon the Lords daies, 
etc." * 

For many years, until the church bell was hung, the 
congregation was summoned by drum beat, Thomas 
Sayre in 1648 being "alowed for his basse drumme the 
some of 13s, and his yeare begyneth the sayd daye." § 
Until the separate church was provided for in Bridge- 
hampton, the people from this section used to walk along 
the beach to attend services in Southampton, except 
when the seapoose was running, when they went along 
Mecox Road and over the Wading Place. As I raise my 
eyes from this writing and look across to that road, it 
seems as though I might almost see the shadowy forms 
of the Stanboroughs, the Toppings and others in their 
quaint old clothes, the men habited in that "suf^cient 
coslet (corselet) of clapbourd or other wood," which 
they were required to wear, with their flint-lock muskets 
over their shoulders, their women and children trudg- 
ing by them, and keeping wary eyes toward the woods 
on the north in that lonely stretch from Arthur Howell's 
to Ellis Cook's. 

Sabbath breaking was punishable by fine, and occa- 

t T. R., Vol. I, p. 23. 
% T. R., Vol. I, p. 38. 
* T. R., Vol. I, p. 46. 

§ T. R., Vol. I, p. 52. After they had a bell it was rung every 
evening at 9 o'clock until after the Revolution. 



120 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 



sionally occurred, but seems to have been infrequent. 
Drinking, on the other hand, was often carried to excess, 
as it was everywhere at that period, and indeed well 
into the present century. That as late as the Revolu- 
tion drunkenness was allowed even on state occasions 
and among the highest in the land is shown by the bill 
given in the footnote.* Apparently the first inn, or 
"ordinary," as it was then styled, was kept in South- 
ampton by Richard Mills, who was also schoolmaster, 
and to whom was granted in 165 1, the exclusive privilege 
of retailing liquor during his keeping of the inn. J From 
time to time various ones were "prevailed upon" to keep 
the ordinary — it was evidently not a much desired office 
— sometimes specifying that "victuals and lodgings is 
only for strangers except it bee for town dwellers upon 
court days and training days." f In 1653 it was ordered 
to prevent the disorder arising from "excessive drinking 
of strong drinke, that whoesoever shall bee convicted of 
drunkeness shall for the first time pay los, the second 

* "The State of New York to John Cape Dr. 

To a dinner given by his Excellency the Governor and Council to 
their Excellencies the Minister of France and General Washing- 
ton & Co.. Dec, 1783: 

To 120 dinners £ 48 : : 

" 135 Bottles Madeira 54 : : 

ditto Port 10 : 16 : 

ditto English Beer 9:0:0 

Bowls Punch 9:0:0 

dinners for Musick 1 : 12 : 

ditto for Sarvts 2:0:0 

Wine Glasses Broken 4 : 10 : 

Cutt decanters Broken 3:0:0 

Coffee for 8 Gentlemen 1 : 12 : 

Music, Fees, etc. 8:0:0 

Fruit and Nuts 5:0:0 



36 
60 
30 
8 
10 
60 



By Cash, 



£156 
100 



10 
16 



£55 : 14 : 0." 
The bill is given in Mather's "Refugees from Long Island," and 

was audited by Isaac Roosevelt, Jas. Duane, Egbt. Benson and 

Fred. Jay. 

X T. R., Vol. I, p. 79. 
t T. R., Vol. I, p 120. 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 121 

time 20S, the third time 30s." % Many times were these 
f^nes inflicted, and it remained here as elsewhere for a 
new social outlook to materially decrease this particu- 
lar vice. Drink was so necessary an element even at 
funerals that in 1701 in the case of a man buried at the 
expense of the town the items in the account were : for 
60 nails and making the coffin and the trouble of burial, 
6s 9d; for a winding sheet, 7s 6d, and to drink at his 
laying out and burial, 3s i^d." § As we have seen in 
the preceding chapter, Bridgehampton probably had its 
own local tavern a little before 1700. 

We must remember that at that time they had neither 
coffee nor tea, as well as very little sugar. Tobacco, 
however, was raised from the earliest days, and pipe 
smoking was common. There were no newspapers, no 
libraries, and but few families had any books, and those 
probably not a half dozen volumes. So scarce were they 
that Minister Huntting in East Hampton copied out in 
full "Willard's Body of Divinity," a folio volume. Their 
houses contained almost nothing but the barest ne- 
cessities, few had any pictures, few had lamps, and it 
was not everyone even that had candlesticks. The re- 
markably minute inventories tell us of tables, desks, 
chests, a few chairs, beds and beddings, andirons, shov- 
els and tongs, a few pots and pans, some wood and 
pewter ware, perhaps a little earthenware, occasionally 
a few shillings worth of books or a silver tankard. There 
were, of course, no stoves, or coal, and all cooking was 
done by the open wood fires, which were also the only 
means of heating the houses. All fires were kindled by 
a spark struck from flint and steel on a bit of tow, and 
a tinder box was in every home. Blacksmith's charcoal 
was all burned in kilns in the woods, and Mr. W. D. 
Halsey tells me the locations of many of these kilns are 
still clearly marked today. 

t T. R., Vol. I, p. 96^ 
§ T. R., Vol. V, p. 164. 



1 22 MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 

Of the cost of living, some idea may be had from the 
following inventories, and many more prices could be 
given if space permitted, but it may be said, in a gen- 
eral way, that everything produced at home was cheap 
aiid everything imported dear. Wages were low, for 
there was no diversity of employments, and all had to 
offer their labor for the same work in the same market. 

INVENTORY OF JOSIAH STANBOROUGH'S 
ESTATE, 1661 





£ 


s 


d 




£ 


s 


d 


16 Cowes 


64 








2 old oxen 


16 








4 young- oxen 


21 








8 steers come 4 years old 


44 








7 steers & 2 heifer cows 3 years old 


38 


10 





3 steers & 2 heifer come 2 years old 


15 


10 





13 calves 


13 








150 sheep 


70 








12 hogs 


10 








A pfoat 





6 


8 


a mare and horse 


21 








a bay mare and filly 


20 








the old horse 


10 








the young horse 


9 








the hay and wheat 


22 








3 acres of Indian corne 


5 








6 little iron pots 


2 


8 





4 pots 


2 


12 





5 iron kettles 


1 


10 





6 skillets 


■1 


10 





4 mortars 14s, 4 pots £4 is 


4 


14 





2 iron Kettles 


2 


10 





5 barres of iron 


3 


10 





wheels and old iron and other lumber 


5 








4 iron pots 


2 


15 





iron ware sold to Easthampton 


11 


10 





broad ax, Jack and other tools 


1 


15 





hookes 


2 


10 





92 lbs. of wool 


6 








6 pairs of sheets 


6 








a bed & 2 rugs 


3 








bed tick and pair of blankets 


3 


6 





a feather bed and bolster and some other bedding 3 


10 





wearing cloths 


8 








2 hats broad cloth Kersey and stuff 


8 








2 peeces of stuff 


7 


14 





a piece of broad cloth 


3 








a gun sword and pistol 


3 








2 chests and boxes 


1 









1 


10 








10 


8 


1 








150 









MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 123 

a table & 10 barrels 
a grind stone & pails 
a firkin of butter 
the howse land and accomodations 
4 brass Kettles, a friing pan a tramell and 2 pair 

of pot hooks 6 

buttons silke cardes a remnant of cotton and 

other lumber 2 10 

a feather bed, 2 bolsters and a blanket and 2 

pillows 5 

a winnow, sheet and woolen yarn and some 

other things 1 10 

INVOICE OF ESTATE OF JOHN COOPER, 1662 

10 mares 

1 horse 
4 horses 3 years old 

A yearling horse 

2 mares, foals 
4 horse coults 
4 mare foals 
4 horse colts 

3 cows ; 
A bull 4 years old 
A yearling heifer 

3 calves 

1 Bed and furniture 

All the old iron & lumber 

Pewter 

A mortar brass & brass pot & Kettell & other 
brass 

A iron pot 

Sheets & other linen 

Chests & boxes 

Gold & silver spoon & other small things 

Books 

House & land 

Sheets & other linen 

Wearing clothes ^ 
1 hat & spectacles 

a chest & stockings 

A buff coat 

374 15 
The above is but a rough outHne sketch of the hfe of 
the first half century, many phases of which have not 
been touched upon at all, while many details might be 
added to fill up the outline of those that have, but per- 
haps enough has been told to give pause for second 
thought to those who long for a return to the "good old 
days." 



£ 


s 


d 


120 








10 








30 








8 








22 








40 








32 








28 








15 








4 


10 





1 


15 





2 


10 





10 








4 








1 


8 





2 


6 








10 





1 


10 








16 





1 


10 





1 








21 








2 








11 








2 








1 








2 









CHAPTER VII 
THE REVOLUTION, THE WAR OF 1812, AND THE CIVIL WAR 

As has been said in the preceding chapter, the con- 
(h'tions of life there described lasted with but little 
change for nearly 150 years. The various communities 
already mentioned grew steadily in numbers, more and 
more houses dotted the landscape, a few new inventions 
and a few more comforts were added to the meagre 
store of the first days, but on the whole life continued in 
much the same independent, hard working, peaceful 
fashion until in 1774 began the mutterings of that storm 
which was later to burst in greater fury and cause more 
havoc and suffering in the East End than almost any- 
where else in the country and to alter individual and 
community relations for all time after. 

It is no part of the scheme of this book to give even 
the slightest outline of public events, save as they dis- 
tinctly bore upon the life of the community of which it 
is a partial record. 

As every boy knows, events were already moving 
rapidly in Boston by 1774. On June 17th of that year, 
the inhabitants of East Hampton, without a single dis- 
senting voice, voted that they would, to the utmost of 
their abilities, assert and in a lawful manner defend the 
liberties and immunities of America. On Nov. 15, the 
Suffolk County Committees of Correspondence met at 
Riverhead and recommended to the several Towns that 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 125 

they should send subscriptions for the distressed in 
Boston and procure a vessel for that purpose. On April 
29th of the following year, after the news of Lexington, 
the Continental Congress suggested the signing, by all 
citizens who were loyal to the cause of the Colonies of 
the following "Articles of Association" : 

"Persuaded, that the Salvation of the Rights and Lib- 
erties of America depends, under GOD, in the firm 
Union of its Inhabitants, in a vigorous Prosecution of 
the Measures necessary for its Safety; and convinced 
of the Necessity of preventing the Anarchy and Con- 
fusion, which attend a Dissolution of the Powers of 
Government; We the Freeholders and Inhabitants, of 
being greatly alarmed at the avowed De- 
sign of the Ministry, to raise a Revenue in America; 
and, shocked by the bloody Scene now acting in the 
Massachusetts Bay, DO, in the most solemn Manner re- 
solve, never to become Slaves; and do Associate under 
all the Ties of Religion, Honour, and Love to our Coun- 
try, to adopt and endeavour to carry into Execution, 
whatever Measures may be recommended by the Con- 
tinental Congress ; or resolved upon by our Provincial 
Convention, for the Purpose of preserving our Consti- 
tution, and opposing the Execution of the several 
arbitrary, and oppressive Acts of the British Parlia- 
ment; until a Reconciliation between Great Britain and 
America, on Constitutional Principles (which we most 
ardently Desire) can be obtained; And that we will, in 
all Things follow the Advice of our General Committee, 
respecting the Purposes aforesaid, the Preservation of 
Peace and good Order, and the Safety of Individuals 
and private property. 

Dated in May, 1775."* 

These articles were signed by every male in the Town 

*This, as well as many other quotations in the early part of this 
chapter, is taken from Mr. F. G. Mather's monumental work "The 
Refugees of 1776" which is a mine of information and indispensable 
to every student of Revolutionary Long Island. 



12G MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 

of East Hampton and by all but two in the Town of 
Southampton (including, of course, Bridgehampton) 
and, according to Judge Hedges, these two must also 
have signed later. 

A few weeks after, many of the British warships, 
having made Gardiner's Bay their rendezvous, the 
Eastern Towns at once began to suffer from their raids 
after cattle and stores, and in July representations were 
made to Congress that there were 2000 cattle and be- 
tween 3 and 4000 sheep on Montauk. thus liable to 
seizure by the enemy. A company under Capt. Hulbert 
was stationed there, while between 2 and 3000 sheep 
and some cattle were removed by Genl. Gage from 
Gardiner's and Fisher's Islands to the main land. 

In July 1776, the Convention assured East and South- 
ampton that the Montauk stock would be protected and 
also took measures to drive into the interior the horned 
cattle and sheep from other parts of the island, the 
former estimated at over 100,000 head and the latter 
at a much larger number, providing for their protection 
if possible but requiring that they should be destroyed 
rather than fall into the hands of the British, and for 
the enforcement of the orders, drafting one quarter of 
the Minute and Militia men. 

The Regiment in Suffolk County (Feb. 5, 1776) was 
under command of Col. Josiah Smith of Moriches, and 
contained 2 companies from Southampton Town with 
the following officers : 

1st Southampton Co. 2nd Southampton Co. 

Capt. Zephaniah Rogers Capt. David Pierson 

1st Lt. Nathaniel Howell, Jr. 1st Lt. John Foster, Jr. 

2d do. Mathew Sayer 2nd do. Abram Rose 

Ens. Ens. Edward Topping 

About July 1. 1776, there is a list of of^cers of Col. 
Smith's Regiment, the officers of the 1st Company be- 
ing Capt. Zephaniah Rogers, 1st Lt. Edward Topping, 
2nd Lt. Paul Jones. Sergts. Hugh Gelston, Tim. Halsey, 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 



127 



and David Lupton, Corporals, Jehiel Howell, Elias 
Pierson, and Jona. Cook. 

In the library of the Suffolk County Historical So- 
ciety are the original muster rolls of Col. Smith's Regi- 
ment, which are given in Mather's "Refugees," and I 
here take the Hberty of giving the muster of Capt. 
David Pierson's "Company of Minute Men of Bridge- 
hampton." 

David Pierson, Capt. 
John Foster, 1st Lt. 
Abraham Rose, 2nd Lt, 
Edw. Topping, Ens. 
Sam'l White, Serg't 
David Woodruff, Serg't 
Silvanus Wick, Serg't 
(Entered into Continental 

service) 
David Lupton, Serg't 
Isaac Pierson, Corp. 
Mathew Jagger, Corp. 
Philip Gildersleeve, Corp. 
Joshua Hildreth, Corp. 
Anthony Shearman, Corp. 
(Entered into Continental 

service). 
William Gelston, fife 
James Foster, drum 
(Entered into Continental 

service). 
Hugh Gelston, Clerk 
Zachariah Pierson 
Mathew Topping 
Abraham Peirson 
Armstrong Bishop 
Job Pierson 

Grover L'Hommedieu, Serg't 
Abraham Halsey 
Jeremiah Bower 
Silvanus Conkling 
Alexander King 
Moses Howell 
David Howell 
Henry Brown 
Josiah Raynor 
Josiah Stanborough 
Jonathan Hand 
Daniel Skellinger, Jr. 
David Russell 
John Edwards 
Nathan Hedges 
Phineas Homan 



Jeremiah Bower, Fif. 
Jeremiah Topping 
Edward Howell 
Josiah Hand 
Jonathan Russell 
Henry Topping 
Job Hedges 
John Corwithe 
Topping Rogers 
Daniel Sandford 
Mathew Cooper 
David Edwards 
Caleb Brown 
David Tarbell 
David Bower 
Zephaniah Topping 
David Howell Sandford 
Thomas Halsey 
Henry Corwithe 
Benjamin Crook 
Samuel King 
Henry Gildersleeve 
John Hudson 
Daniel Hand, Jr. 
Abraham Dickerson 
Timothy Hedges, Jr. 
Silvanus Halsey 
Benjamin Sandford 
Luther Hildreth 
Daniel Halsey 
James Terry 
Abraham Sandford 
David Smith 
Lewis Sandford 
Ephraim White 
Stephen White 
William Conn 
Henry Edwards 
Jeremiah Gardiner 
Joseph Hand 
John Hand, Jr. 
Silas Pain 
Christopher Vail 



128 MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 

Jonathan Cook . Benjamin Hunt 

David Fithen Halsey Henry Moore 

Hezekiah Bower Caleb Corwithe 

Another muster of a little earlier date has also the 
names of Joshua Hildreth, Silas Cook and John Hud- 
son, Jr. 

By Feb. 2i, 1776, Thomas Cooper and Silas Halsey, 
Committeemen had reported to the New York Provinc- 
ial Congress the election of a Company of Minute Men 
in the Town, and Maltby Gelston had certified the elec- 
tion of officers of another Company. On Feb. 10, the 
Eastern Regiment reported 9 Companies with 768 of- 
ficers and privates of which 2 Companies were from 
East Hampton, 2 from Bridgehampton, one jointly from 
Bridgehampton and Sag Harbor, and 3 from Southamp- 
ton. This Regiment was headed by Col. Mulford but a 
portion of it, as well as of two other Suffolk regiments, 
was later merged into the Regiment of Minute Men un- 
der Col. Smith. The oliticers of the 3d and 9th (Bridge- 
hampton) and 6th (Bridgehampton and Sag Harbor) 
companies were as below : 

3rd Co. 9th Co. 

Capt. David Pierson Capt. John Sandford 

1st Lt. Daniel Hedges 1st Lt. Edward Topping 

2nd Lt. David Sayre 2nd Lt. Phillip Howell 

Ens. Theophilus Pierson Ens. John Hildreth 

6th Co. 

Capt. Wm. Rogers, Jr. 

1st Lt. Jesse Halsey 

2nd Lt. [Elias] Henry Halsey 

Ens. Nathaniel Rogers 

It seems to be now established that this regiment, 
and at least a large number of the men mustered in it, 
took part in the Battle of Long Island, which at one 
l)low determined the fate of the East End during the 
entire remainder of the war. When Washington re- 
treated, necessary and wise as that retreat may have 
been, the result was some six years of incalculable and 
undeserved suffering for the people at that end of the 
Island. The western part was largely Tory in senti- 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 129 

ment, Kings County not having signed the Association 
at all, and Queens County but slowly and unwiUingly. 
Not so, however, was it in Suffolk. There feeling was 
deep and strong in favor of the patriot cause, and had 
been freely expressed. The battle left them cut off 
from the rest of their fellow-sympathizers, the British 
Army an impassable barrier, their own men largely 
scattered in the confusion following the retreat, and 
themselves and their property absolutely at the mercy 
of the enemy, with no possibility of resistance or de- 
fense. 

Surrendered as they were to the British at the end of 
August, but a few anxious weeks passed before Gov. 
Tryon made his hand felt and forced the oath of alleg- 
iance to the English Crown, in a most obnoxious form, 
upon all those who for one reason or another could not 
escape to their friends on the mainland. The unfortunate 
people who had been so quick to sympathize, and send 
welcome help to the cause in Boston, and who ever 
since by word and deed had, with practically no dissent- 
ing voice in the two entire townships, aided the patriot 
cause in every possible way, now, abandoned by their 
friends, with no refusal possible, were forced to sub- 
scribe to the following oath : 

'T do swear upon the Evangelist of Almighty God, 
that I hold true and faithful allegiance to his Majesty 
King George the Third of Great Britain, his heirs and 
successors ; and hold an utter abhorrence of congresses, 
rebellions, &c; and do promise never to be concerned in 
any manner with his Majesty's rebellious subjects in 
America. So help me God!" 

A joint meeting was held by the men of the two 
Towns at Sagg on Sept. 14, 1776, to endeavor to secure 
a mitigation of the terms of the oath but to no avail. 

Col. Abraham Gardiner was chosen and forced to ad- 
minister the oath to the people of the Towns, and it is 
said that, after surrounding their respective houses at 



130 MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 

Sagg and East Hampton, he forced both Col. Jonathan 
Hedges and Col. David Mulford to take it, although all 
three afterwards became refugees. As to the whole 
ethical case involved in an oath administered by force I 
quote from an address by Judge Hedges : 

"What should they do? Take the oath and live? 
Refuse and die? They took the oath, but in heart were 
as devoted to their country and as hostile to their op- 
pressors as before. This is a subject avoided by writers, 
but fidelity to historic truth demands expression. 
\\'hen residents of Sag Harbor and the Hamptons took 
this oath, as they in fact did, they reasoned thus: Re- 
fusing, I die with no benefit or help to my family, 
friends or country's cause ; living, I may be a help to all, 
ministering to aged parents, to sick and dying of family 
and friends, protector of wives, sisters and children from 
brutal assaults on their purity and honor. In law and 
morals, fraud or force annuls a deed or contract, and 
undue influence voids a will, and why not an oath ? To 
hold an oath procured by force valid, is to hold force 
the law and above the right. When Col. Gardiner as 
commissioner, with a company, surrounded the house 
of Col. Jonathan Hedges of Sagg, and at the point of 
the bayonet compelled the old hero to take the oath, 
what else could he do? What else could Col. Hedges 
do? It was this or death. They were both known as 
patriots then and after. If Col. Gardiner did not compel 
Col. Hedges and others to take the oath, he was liable 
to all the penalties of martial law, just as Col. Hedges 
was if he did not take it. At this very time Nathaniel 
Gardiner, son of Col. Gardiner, was a surgeon in the 
American Army, and served as such until the end of the 
war. Who can doubt the patriotism of the father?" 

The power of the enemy was felt not alone in words, 
however. On Sept. 5th, 1776. David Gelston. one of 
the most noted citizens of Bridgehampton, and who was 
throughout the war most active in assisting the refugees 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 13 1 

and ameliorating" their condition, wrote to the New 
York State Convention from Saybrook, "Can only tell 
you the distresses which I hourly see and hear from 
Long Island, are beyond my power to describe." 

I may here interrupt the narrative to speak of this 
man who was one of the most prominent who ever lived 
here, but to whose memory there is no monument. He 
was born July 7, 1744, died Aug. 21, 1828. He was one 
of the petitioners for a wharf at Sag Harbor in 1770, 
signed the Articles of Association in 1775, was a mem- 
ber of the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Provincial Congresses, 1775- 
7, the latter being empowered to establish a new form of 
government. The Committee of Safety appointed him 
to be one of a Committee to procure accounts of the 
vessels carrying refugees from Long Island, and he was 
also a member of the Committee appointed to report on 
a method of reimbursing the state for its expenses 
therein and for accounting for the same to Connecticut. 
In 1780 he was one of the Commissioners to raise specie 
to redeem the bills emitted and was also a member of 
the Constitutional Convention of 1777, member of the 
Assembly from 1777-1785, Speaker of that body 1784-5, 
member of the Council of Appointment 1792-3, Senator 
from the southern district 1791-4, 1798 and 1802, dele- 
gate to the U. S. Congress 1788, Surrogate of New 
York, and Collector of the Port of New York 1801-20. 
He was a son of Deacon Maltbie Gelston, and the old 
Gelston house is still standing on the east side of Butter 
Lane. 

To continue our story, troops were soon quartered on 
the Towns and while the milder Lord Erskine, who 
made his headquarters in Southampton did something 
to restrain his subordinates and men, Bridgehampton 
suffered from the presence of the notorious Major 
Cochrane, whose headquarters for long periods were at 
Sagg, and of whom Judge Hedges wrote, "No man 
more vile, no man more lirutal; no memorv more ex- 



132 MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 

ecrated has passed down in the traditions of these 
Towns, concerning that period than his."* 

In many houses are still to be seen evidences of the 
British occupation, such as the pictures carved in the 
woodwork of Mr. Elmer J. Thompson's house in Sagg, 
by the Hessians when quartered there. Some of the 
personal anecdotes in the relations between the citizens 
and soldiery are here given as I have found them. 

"Major Cochrane * * * once caused a peace- 
able and inofifensive man, William Russell by name, to 
be tied up and whipped till the blood ran down to his 
feet, and this with no adequate provocation. As be- 
fore remarked, the people of this parish [Bridgehamp- 
ton] suffered much from the lawless soldiery — not only 
from nocturnal marauders, but from vandalism per- 
petrated in open day light. Cattle were wantonly 
carried ofif, forage seized without payment, loose prop- 
erty appropriated and even furniture in their dwellings 
demolished. They came to the house of Mr. Lemuel 
Pierson and turned him out. Against their orders, he 
was determined to carry off some of his furniture, and 
although they stood over him with drawn sword, he 
persisted and gained his point. At another time, they 
came to his house to secure any plunder that might of- 
fer itself. Mrs. Pierson was alone in the house with 
young children, but nothing daunted, met them at the 
door with a kettle of hot water and threatened to scald 
the first man who attempted to enter her doors ; and 
the British thinking discretion the better part of valor, 
quietly retreated." f 

"On the Mecox Road, stood the old Hildreth house to 
which one day there came a squad of British soldiers, 
who demanded dinner. The women demurred, but the 
soldiers were insistent. One young woman flung open 
the door, seized a weapon that stood in the hall and de- 

*Centennial Address. 

t Howell, Hist, of Southampton. 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON "133 

clared she would stab any man who dared to enter. 
They hkewise desisted. "f 

"At another time, a number of British soldiers, with 
blackened faces and coats turned inside out, came at 
night to the house of Mr. Edward Topping. Mr. Top- 
ping was awakened by the noise and seizing his gun, 
ran to defend his castle from the intruders. A window 
was raised from the outside, and a man appeared about 
to make his entrance. Mr. Topping commanded him to 
retire and threatened to shoot if he persisted. No at- 
tention was paid to his warning, however, and as the 
man was climbing in, he shot and the soldier fell back 
dead. He was carried ofT by his comrades, and the 
next morning word was sent to Gen. Erskine at South- 
ampton. He came over to Bridgehampton, investi- 
gated the affair, and having learned the facts, said to 
the British soldiers around him: "Is that one of your 
best men? Dom him,' (kicking the body), 'take him 
down to the ocean and bury him below high water 
mark.' And so ended the affair, which under Maj. 
Cochrane, might have had for Mr. Topping a more 
tragical termination."* 

Another story, of Cochrane, is, that when at Sagg, he 
took a young boy, had him shot, or pretended to shoot 
at him, as a mark. The mother in her distress sent an 
old servant to ask for the boy. Cochrane released the 
lad, and ordered the slave to be tied in the same place 
calling him a "black limping devil" and actually con- 
tinued to shoot at him at intervals through the after- 
noon. X 

David Cook (1720-1814) enhsted May 3, 1780 at the 
age of 60 but was home the greater part of the time the 
Hessian troops were in occupation, and was constantly 
robbed of his stock and farm produce. A little north- 
west of Mrs. Gardiner's house on the hill, is a deep dell 

tNews, Jan. 21, 1910. 
*Howeirs Southampton, p. 75. 
X Hedge's Centennial Address. 



134 MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 

in the woods, known as Purgatory Hollow, and there, 
with others, he hid his cattle. "There he went regu- 
larly all winter to feed and care for them, riding back 
and forth upon the one horse he dared to keep at home, 
but one day a troop rode up, took his hay from the barn 
and demanded his horse; he told them they should not 
have it. Then they began to threaten and he told them 
he was no more afraid of them than he would be of any 
old squaw with a broomstick. Then one of them at- 
tempted to run him through with his sword, but another 
caught his arm, crying, 'Would you kill that man?' T 
would,' said he, 'if you had not caught my arm.' They 
then began to coax, saying they only wanted the horse 
to go to Sagg, and would bring it back, told him to let 
one of his boys get up behind and he could bring the 
horse back. So the horse was taken, the boy getting up 
behind the officer and so riding until they reached the 
hill where the Hay Ground mill now stands, when 
the boy was told to get off and tighten the girth. The 
rider then whipped up the horse and told the boy to 
walk home.* Such things were so common and were 
kept up so long, that the people became filled with a 
bitter hatred for a red coat, and to call anyone a Hessian 
was the lowest, vilest epithet that could be bestowed."! 
A pleasanter local story is told of Gen. Erskine, who 
was said to be "riding along the Sagg Road one day, 
when he met a lad on a load of hay, and he began to 
banter the boy about l^eing a young rebel. But he soon 
found that the boy had a sharp tongue and a sturdy 
spirit, and he manfully stood up for the rights of the 
Americans. Gen. Erskine rode on, amused and yet im- 
pressed. Not long' afterwards he resigned his commis- 
sion and returned to England, and he owned that his 
talk with that boy had much to do with convincing him 

*David Cook served until Dec. 6, 1780, in the 5th N. Y. Regt., Col. 
Lewis Du Bois. 

fMr. Addison M. Cook in the News, Jan. 7, 1910. 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 135 

of the injustice of England's position and the impossibil- 
ity of subduing the colonists whose children showed 
such determination. "J 

Besides the personal indignities and insults which 
they were liable to sufifer at any moment from the in- 
vaders, their property of all kinds, particularly of 
course, their crops and other food, was constantly re- 
quisitioned, promises to pay being given in exchange, 
which the British government later repudiated. These 
orders were of the following form in Suffolk County : 
"You are hereby ordered to preserve, for the King's 
use, — loads of hay, — bushels of wheat, — of oats, — of 
rye, — of barley, — of Indian corn, and all your wheat 
and rye straw, and not to .dispose of the same, but to 
my order, in writing, as you will answer the contrary 
at your peril." In 1783, Sir Guy Carleton appointed a 
Board of Commissioners for the purpose of adjusting 
demands, but they sailed without doing anything, and 
the claims were never paid. 

In the meantime, however, as soon as the effects of 
the battle of Long Island were realized, sooner than 
take the oath and remain in the hands of the enemy, 
great numbers abandoned their homes, or left them un- 
der the charge of such as could not leave for one reason 
or another, and fled to Connecticut. This was not only 
in accord with their own feelings but with the recom- 
mendations of the Convention which voted on Aug. 29 
that the inhabitants should "remove as many of their 
women, children and slaves and as much of their live 
stock and grain, to the main, as they can; and that this 
Convention will pay the expense of removing the 
same." This was not wholly out of consideration for 
the unfortunate inhabitants, but largely to reduce the 
supplies which otherwise would serve to support the 
British, for the inhabitants could raise nothing to feed 
or clothe themselves which might not feed or clothe the 

JNews, Jan. 21, 1910. 



136 MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 

enemy, and it was this unfortunate situation from which 
flowed a great part of their sufferings as it caused them 
to be harried by friend as well as foe. Dr. Buell wrote 
from East Hampton, Sept. 22, 1776, that "the people 
are as a torch on fire at both ends, which will be speedily 
consumed, for the Continental whigs carry of¥ their 
stock and produce, and the British punish them for al- 
lowing it to go. Hopes the Whigs will not oppress the 
oppressed, but let the stock alone." 

The battle occurred Aug. 27th, the Convention acted 
Aug. 29th, and on Sept. 15th there is an entry, 
"Wharves at Sag Harbor crowded with emigrants." So 
hasty was the flight in some cases that it was said that 
bread mixed on Long Island was baked in Connecticut.* 
The various authorities in Connecticut, town and other, 
promptly made such arrangements as they could to re- 
ceive the influx of refugees and their goods, and these, 
after jjeing carried over the Sound, were scattered 
mainly through the towns and villages of Saybrook, 
Stonington, Haddam, East Haddam, Guilford, Chester, 
Canterbury, Middletown and Wethersfield. Owing to 
the fact that the accounts of the Captains of the boats 
which ferried the refugees over were audited and paid 
by the New York authorities, they have been preserved 
and give us a vivid picture of the removal. Thus for 
trip of Sept. 2, 1776, Capt. Zebulon Cooper turns in a 
bill for transporting 94 persons; on a third trip he had 
63 passengers, 10 cows, 2 horses, 30 sheep, 17 hogs, and 
22 loads of goods; on a fourth trip, 30 cattle, 150 sheep, 
2 loads of household goods and 8 passengers. For 
service between Sept. 5 and Oct. 10th Capt. Grififeth put 
in a bill for transporting John Hand, Jr., and a load of 
household goods to East Haddam, Ryall Howell and 
Sylvanus Howell and 3 loads to the same place, Thomas 
Topping and a load of goods to Saybrook, Nathaniel 

*See "Refugees," Mather, p. 261 and elsewhere. See that volume 
also for the Captains' audited bills. 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON I.37 

Huntting to same place with 4 loads, Deacon Maltby 
Gelston to East Haddam with 5 loads, and again with 6 
in his family and 2 hogs, as well as two additional trips 
for the Deacon with 34 and 14 head of cattle and 3 more 
loads of household goods. Edward Howell was carried 
by the same captain on two trips with 40 sheep, 4 cows 
and 2 loads of corn. Jonathan Cook was later taken to 
Saybrook with 1 passenger and 3 chests, and on a later 
trip, with a load of goods to Chester. Lemuel Pierson, 
with 10 in his family, and Zebulon Pierson, with 5 in his, 
also appear in this bill, as do several others, and cases 
might be multiplied almost indefinitely. Below is a list 
of those refugees which are noted in Mather as coming 
from Bridgehampton. I have added asterisks to those 
who were at one time or another in active military ser- 
vice. The list contains 155 names, to which must be 
added the wives, children, and servants or slaves and 
thus affords us some idea of the magnitude of the ex- 
odus. Tradition relates that Deacon David Hedges 
started to go with his brother, but a half mile north of 
Sagg, decided not to, and returned home with his ox- 
load of goods. 

Albertson, Daniel *Haines, David 

*Bower, Hezekiah *Halsey, Abraham 

*Brown, Henry *Halsey, Lt. Elias 

*Chapin, Benj. *Halsey, Capt. Henry 
*Chappell, Benj. Halsey, Jeremiah 

*Chappell, Benj., Jr. Halsey, John 

*Clark, Elihu Halsey, Josiah 

Clark, Samuel *Halsey, Mathew 
*Conkling, Lt. Silvanus Halsey, Phebe 

*Cook, David *Halsey, Capt. Philip 

*Cook, James, Adjt. *Halsey, Dr. Stephen 

Cook, John Mitchell *Halsey, Serg't Stephen 
*Cook, Corp. Jonathan Halsey, Theophilus 

Cook, Rebecca *Halsey, Serg't Timothy 

*Cook, Maj. Silas *Hand, Daniel, Jr. 

Cooper, Silas *Hand, David 

*Foster, James Hand, Gideon 

Gelston, David *Hand, Jonathan 

*Gelston, Adj't John *Hand, Joseph 

Gelston, Maltby *Hedges, Capt. Daniel 

Gelston, Thomas *Hedges, David 

*Gelston, Capt. Wm. Hedges, Hannah 



138 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 



*Hedges, Dr. Jeremiah 
*Hedges, Col. Jonathan 

Hedges, Jonathan, Jr. 

Hedges, Stephen 
*Hildreth, Joshua 

Howell, Daniel 
*Howell, Capt. David 
*Howell, David, Jr. 
*Howell, Edward 

Howell, Elias 

Howell, Ezekiel 
*Howell, Isaac 

Howell, Joshua 

Howell, Paul 
*Howell, Philip 

Howell, Recompence 

Howell, Ryall 

Howell, Walter 

Jagger, Mathew 

Jessup, Isaac 
*Jessup, Silas 
*King, Alex. 
*King, Peter 
*King, Samuel 
*L'Hommedieu, Grover 

Ludlam, Anthony 

Ludlam, Stephen 

Mitchell, Mehitabel, wid. 

Moore, Daniel 
*Moore, Henry 
*Moore, Joseph 
*Morehouse, Andrew 

Morehouse, Sarah 

Nicholson, Wm. 

Norris, Silas 

Parker, Jeremiah 
*Pierson, Abraham 
*Pierson, Capt. David 
*Pierson, Corp. Elias 

Pierson, Jedediah 
*Pierson, Serg't John 

Pierson, Lemuel 
*Pierson, Serg't Lemuel, Jr. 

"Pierson, Lemuel, 3d 

Pierson, Mathew 

Pierson, Mathew, Jr. 
*Pierson, Samuel 
Pierson, Silvanus 
Pierson, Stephen 
*Pierson, Ens. Theophilus 
*Pierson, Zachariah 
Pierson, Zebulon 



Post, Elias & wife 
*Post, Capt. Nathan 
*Rogers, Capt. Jeremiah 
*Rogers, John 

Rogers, Jonathan 

Rogers, Joshua 
*Rogers, Nathaniel 

Rogers, Sarah, wid. 
*Rogers, Capt. Wm. 

Rogers, Zachariah 
*Rose, Lt. Abraham 
*Russell, Jonathan 
*Sandford, Deac. Benj. 
*Sandford, David 

Sandford, Ezekiel 
*Sandford, Capt. John 

Sayre, Benj. 

Sayre, Benj., Jr. 

* Sayre, Lt. David 
Sayre, Capt. David 
Sayre, Ephraim 

* Sayre, James 
*Smith, David 

Stanborough, Lewis 

Stanborough, Stephen 
*Thomson, Zebulon 

Topping, Chas. 
*Topping, Lt. Dan'l, Jr. 

Topping, Daniel 

Topping, David 

Topping, David, Jr. 
*Topping, Lt. Edward 

Topping, Elisha 
*Topping, Henry 

Topping, Joseph 
*Topping, Mathew 

Topping, Paul 

Topping, Phebe 

Topping, Rebecca 

Topping, Ezekiel 

Topping, Thomas 
*Vail, Christopher 

White, Benj. 

White, David 
*White, Dr. Henry 
*White, John 
*White, Silas 

Wick, Edward 
*Woodruff, Benj. 
*Woodruff, David 
*Woodruff, Daniel 
*Woodruff, Silas 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 139 

Many of these made a number of trips at first, and 
probably considered their exile as temporary. No one 
could foresee the years the war was to last, and, even 
if it should last longer than they anticipated, they prob- 
ably expected no difficulty in returning, should need 
arise. But as the situation gradually developed, with 
the rise of the "illicit trade" and other dangers due to 
intercourse with the enemy, the authorities forbade and 
prevented such returns, except as occasionally granted 
in individual cases. Sometimes the applications were 
favorably acted upon, as one of Dec. 2, 1778, for ex- 
ample, when it was voted that the wife of Col. Jonathan 
Hedges "be permitted to return to Long Island to re- 
side there with one daughter aged about 15 years and 
one son aged about 9 years; and that one of his sons 
be permitted to go over to Long Island to fetch off some 
grain under the inspection and direction of one justice 
of the peace and two of the selectmen of Stonington." 
These precautions were adopted in practically all cases, 
even where the loyalty of individuals was unquestioned. 
Thus we find on another date, (May 22, 1779) that it 
was "voted that Cols. John Hulbert, Theophilus Halsey 
[Lt.], David Sayer, and [Capt.] Stephen Howell, be 
permitted to pass with a boat to Long Island and to 
bring ofif some grain, provided they first apply to Capt. 
Shipman, commandant at the fort at Say Brook, to 
search said boat and see that no goods, provisions or 
money are on board at the time of her departure, and 
that on their return they shall exhibit to said Shipman 
a true manifest of the grain they shall have brought 
from said Long Island in said boat."* 

The people of Connecticut undoubtedly did what they 
could for the sufferers, but without homes, without op- 
portunity to work at their trades or accustomed occu- 
pations, with insufficient money to last the long years of 
the war, with their properties at home falling into decay 

*See Mather's "Refug'ees" as above. 



1 40 MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 

or ruined by the enemy, in many cases with the heads of 
famihes killed or in the army, their plight was pitiable 
and it is hard to decide who suffered most, those who 
remained at home, or those who fled by the advice of 
the Convention. Among the documents are many 
which tell the sad story. Thus, Dr. Silas Halsey pe- 
titions that he may return from Killingworth to his 
home, for "since his residence in said Town he hath lost 
his wife, and his Family left in Broken Circumstances, 
that he is in no business whereby to Subsist his Family 
and hath expended almost everything he brought with 
him and by the present enhanced price of the necessary 
articles of Subsistence Cannot any longer support him- 
self and family unless he may be permitted to return" 
&c. Joseph Topping likewise petitions saying ''that the 
Property he brought with him is nearly expended, that 
he hath a Family consisting of a Wife & Six Children 
which he can discern no way to support here much 
longer, that he hath a Farm and an Aged Father on 
Long Island, v.ho want his Service & his Assistance" 
&c. 

These stories are typical and could be multiplied, but 
they show the conditions, which were relieved only with 
the end of the war. \\'hen that came, however, and the 
people were once more gathered in their homes, what 
changes had passed over the community. Many had 
died from disease, many had fallen fighting in their 
country's cause, all faced heavy financial losses, some 
were totally ruined. The sums voted in poor relief, the 
great change in ownership of land, the enormous num- 
l)er of mortgages, during the succeeding years all tell 
the same story. It has been estimated that Long Island 
lost over $500,000, and not only was none of this repaid, 
but after independence was won. for which this people 
had bled and suffered as much as any, the new state of 
New York levied a tax of $37,000 on the Island because 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON HI 

it had not been in a position to take an active part in the 
war! 

As has been said, many Bridgehampton men did take 
part in it. Beside those already given in the muster roll 
of Minute Men may be mentioned Doctors Samuel H. 
Rose,* Benj. Chapin, Henry White, and Stephen Hal- 
sey, all of whom served as surgeons, Capt. Elias Henry 
Halsey,t who was killed in the massacre at Groton, and 
whose name is on the monument there, Capt. Silas 
Hand, the privateersman, Capt. David Hand, Abram 
and Thomas Halsey who were at Ticonderoga, Capt. 
Sylvanus Halsey, and many others. In Mecox Ceme- 
tery is the grave of John Cook, Jr., a boy of 20, who 
signed the association when only 19, and died of camp 
fever the first year of the war. 

Capt. David Hand, according to Judge Hedges, 
"started to go in the expedition with Montgomery, be- 
came sick at Albany and returned. He afterwards fol- 
lowed the seas on privateers; was taken prisoner by 
the British 5 times: was impressed in service and es- 
caped; was in the Sugar House, at the Wallabout, and 
in the prison ships. A man of indomitable courage and 
spirit. He it was who when robbed and plundered of 
clothing, and denied his wages, by the commander of a 
British vessel, indignantly said to the Captain, 'All I 
ask now is to begin at your talTrail and fight the whole 
ship's crew forward and die like a man'. "J 

They took him to Halifax "and he footed it home 
across New England in winter. After tramping through 
slush all day, he came to a house and thought he had 
taken his last step on earth, but he fell in with kind 

* May 29, 1761 — July 10, 1832. Was a practicing physician in 
Bridgehampton practically all his professional life, and father of 
Judge Abraham T. Rose. 

fWas Captain of a privateer. He was the builder and at one 
time owner and tenant of the Deacon Jeremiah Haines house. 
(A. M. C.) 

X Centennial Address p. 15. See also Howell's Hist. p. 77. 



1 42 MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMFTON 

folks and they nursed him, and the woman warmed his 
bed, sprinkhng sugar in the warming pan to take the 
cold out of his bones. He told her that his mother 
never did that for him. 'Ah,' she said, 'your mother 
never saw you as I see you now'." 

"One night as he was foddering corn up. Maj. Coch- 
rane rode into his yard and ordered him to hitch up his 
team and cart a load from Southampton. He told him 
he wouldn't as he had turned out his team and he 
wouldn't hitch them up again. Cochrane drew his 
sword and pranced around the yard ordering him to 
hitch up. The old man put for him with his pitchfork 
and said to him 'I have fastened to many a whale and 
I'll fasten to you if you don't get out of here.' 'Well.' 
said Cochrane, 'Mr. Hand, I guess you and I had better 
be friends'."* 

Another, although not a Revolutionary story, of 
Capt. Hand [?] was told me verbally to the effect that 
at one time he was in some South American port with 
his ship and a Spanish ship of war was also there. The 
crews of the two vessels met on shore and quarrelled 
over some game or other. Capt. Hand taking the part of 
his men and the Spanish officer of his, with the result 
that the officer challenged the Captain to a duel. He 
accepted and appeared, with his mate as his 'second, at 
the spot selected, early the following morning. As the 
challenged party, he had the choice of weapons and 
had chosen whaling irons (harpoons with their lines at- 
tached) well sharpened. One was handed to the as- 
tonished officer, Capt. Hand took the other, walked 
back a short distance, balanced his weapon carefully 
and prepared to "strike." The officer knew not what 
to do with his, and when he saw the Captain feelingly 
l^ahmcing the long harpoon, and heard him call out to 
the mate, "When I fasten, haul in slack," he turned and 
fled. 

*C. H. Hildreth in News, Sept. 3, 1909. 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 143 

Of the services of the Hand family in the war, Mr. C. 
H. Hildreth stated that David Hand enrolled in the 1st 
regiment under the command of Gen. Van Schaick, and 
his two sons, Josiah and David, Jr., were in Col. Smith's 
regiment. "They were with Washington at the battles 
of Long Island, Trenton, &c. Uncle Josiah used to 
tell of wading in the Delaware waist deep with the cakes 
of ice floating around him. Three of David Hand's sons 
were afterward privateers, David, Isaac and Silas. 
Isaac sailed out from Sandy Hook and was never heard 
from. David Hand's ship was taken near Charleston."* 

Of Capt. Stephen Halsey, Mr! A. M. Cook wrote, "He 
served as a private soldier for about 7 years through the 
war. He was honorably discharged and paid off in 
Continental currency, having when he came home, 
about $600 in this paper. It was evidence of service if 
not evidence of pay and was often shown to me and 
other young fry who were curious enough to express 
the desire to see it, and some of it is still in the possession 
of his descendants. In person Capt. Halsey was of 
short stocky build, and in disposition as short as he 
was in stature. He was esteemed by his neighbors and 
after his retirement from the regular army was made a 
captain of militia. He was a member of the Presbyter- 
ian Church, and I believe, an Elder. xA. little boy, I was 
taken, as was the custom of those days, to his funeral 
which was held in a most terrihc thunder storm. The 

*Mr. Hildreth also said, News Sept. 3, 1909, "David Hand was 
the son of David and Sarah Hapd, bom 1730, and married 17^3 to 
Lerviah, dau. of William Stuart of Shelter Island. They had a 
home by Paugasabogue pond near the old pepperidge tree that 
stands in Nathan P. Halsey's lot. * * * When the Hands 
came to live in Paugasabogue, Indians lived around the pond. One 
night, Mrs. Hand heard screams coming from a wigwam and went 
to see what the trouble was. She found the Indian, who had been 
indulging in fire-water, with one hand twisted in his squaw's hair 
and in the other a long black stone with which he was going to 
brain her. Mrs. Hand ran behind him, caught the stone from his 
hand, and ran home. This stone was used in the Hand family for 
three generations for a pestle to pound coffee and spices, which 
used to come unground. I have used it myself when I have been 
at Grandfather Hand's. It is now among the missing". 



144 MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMFTON 

solemn scene, the vivid lightning, and the crashing 
thunder, made an impression on me never to be for- 
gotten".* 

x\nother of the privateersmen of the war. was Capt. 
Beriah Dayton, who commanded a small vessel running 
out of Sag Harbor. Judge Hedges said that Deacon 
Stephen Rose told him that, on entering New York, 
Dayton and his tiny vessel were taken by the British 
ship of war Asia, and "as they were hoisting Capt. Day- 
ton and his vessel on board that vast ship, Dayton, who 
seemed not disturbed for himself, cried out, 'Take care, 
she is an uncertain jade'.^f 

The men who had been in the whaling business l)e- 
fore the war, played a prominent part in what became 
known as the "whale boat warfare", inflicting much 
damage on the British ships and other forces by their 
sudden and brilliant attacks along the Sound. Only one 
incident can be mentioned here. 

"Deacon John White J of Sagg, was in Meigs' expe- 
dition and may have been in part its guide. He gave me 
an account of it", writes Judge Hedges, stating that the 
company of American soldiers crossed from Guilford, 
on Sachem's Head, in 13 whale boats under convoy of 2 
armed sloops, carried the boats across a narrow neck of 
land west of Greenport. rowed to the fort at the beach 
[at Sag Harbor] and left their boats hid in the wood- 
under guard, marched to Ligonee and forced two Brit- 
ish soldiers in the home of Silas Edwards to act a.s 
guides. They surprised the oiTticers who were at James 
Howell's, surprised the fort, and captured the garrison, 
"Under fire of a schooner of 12 guns and 70 men, Meigs' 
men burned 12 brigs and sloops, (one a vessel of 12 
guns), 120 tons of hay, 10 hogsheads of rum, and a 
large quantity of corn, oats and merchandise, and re- 

*News, Jan. 7, 1910. 
tNews, Oct. 7, 1910. 
jSee Prime's Hist, for a longer account. The date was May 23, 

1777. 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 145 

turned to Guilford in 25 hours from the time of em- 
barking", with 90 prisoners and without the loss of a 
single one of their own men. 

In the War of 1812, as in the Revolution, the British 
fleet made their rendezvous in Gardiner's Bay and Sag 
Harbor was again an objective point. f When news 
came that an enemy's fleet was once more in their 
waters. General Abraham Rose asked those who had 
been worshipping at the Church that Sunday to remain 
after the service, and then addressed them from the 
church porch urging them to volunteer, which they did 
unanimously. 

A fort was erected at the Harbor on what was then 
known as Turkey Hill, a 19 pounder mounted, and a 
garrison placed in charge. Among the garrison were 
Capt. David Hedges and Levi Howell, both afterwards 
Colonels, Rufus Rose, surgeon, Wm. L. Jones, musi- 
cian, Jared Hedges, Rodney Parker, Ellis Squires, Eli- 
sha Halsey and David Topping, all from Bridgehamp- 
ton. In addition, the Company of Minute Men was held 
in readiness to march at the first signal to repel the 
British, who were determined to land and burn the 
town. "Many and many a time", wrote Mrs. Beau- 
mont, who was present at these events in Sag Harbor, 
"both day and night, the alarm would be given 'the 
British are coming,' Then the wagons would be 
brought to take the women and children ofif in the oak 
timber, to stay until the cannon balls fired from the fort 
and wharf by our brave soldiers sent them back. I shall 
never forget that six weeks one summer, all the women 
and children never undressed at night, but lay down 
with their clothes on, through the fear of the foreign 
foe on the bay".* 

Several attacks were made, but all were repulsed. 

On one of these occasions, the cannon in the fort was 

fThe fleet was under command of Admiral Sir Thomas M. Hardy 
who commanded Nelson's flagship at the Battle of Trafalgar. 
*A Sketch of Dr. John Smith Sage. 



146 MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 

loaded with spikes for lack of balls, and on another a 
launch and two barges, with 100 men attempted a 
night surprise and got a foot hold on the wharf, but 
were driven off after setting fire to but one sloop, and 
in their haste left a large part of their arms and ammu- 
nition behind them, some of which are still treasured in 
the Harbor as mementoes. 

Of the men and incidents of that time, no one has 
gathered more information than Mr. Addison M. Cook, 
and in accordance with the plan of this book, to .tell 
Bridgehampton's story as far as possible in the words of 
Bridgehampton men, I gladly quote from his articles in 
the News, some of which were reprinted in the "Story 
of a Celebration", but all of which should be preserved. 

"Abraham Rose was born in 176.5 and died Aug. 22, 

1843. He was a soldier and an officer in this war. In 
1807 he was a Colonel, in 1808 a Lieut. Colonel, in 1812 
a Brigadier General, and in command of all the troops on 
the east end of the Island.* He was a man of admitted 
ability and honored and respected by his generation. 
In times of peace he was a surveyor and the old instru- 
ment that he used is still in existence and held as a relic 
of antiquity of priceless value by his descendants. One 
very like this was used by Washington in his day. 
When the troops of Great Britain landed at Sag Harbor 
for the purpose of capturing and destroying the town, 
this man was in command of the militia that met the 
attack, and made a successful resistance. I quote from 
an old [Bridgehampton] diary of that distant day a few 
words that seem pertinent to this occasion. They were 
written under date of June 26, 1814. '\\'e were return- 
ing from Church and thought the first explosion the 
torpedo brought here last week.t The firing is inces- 
sant and seems louder and heavier than any we have 

*He was a Presidential Elector in 1840, as was Hugh Halsey in 

1844, and Judge A. T. Rose in 1848, all of Bridgehampton. 

fFor the story of this early torpedo see "Sketch of Dr. Sage" 
quoted above. 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON ] 47 

ever heard before ; the tremendous explosions of those 
deep mouthed thunderers jar the house, windows rat- 
tle; how near these messengers of death are we know 
not — we have yet remained safe from the destroying 
enemy; the past summer we have been frequently 
alarmed and once the enemy landed at Sag Harbor, but 
were soon driven back by the militia stationed there ; 
they soon, as they said, found themselves in a hornet's 
nest'. Again from the same diary under date of Aug. 11 
of the same year, 'Twenty sail are said to be ofT Sag 
Harbor with 6000 troops, and we fear we shall yet be 
troubled with them. We daily lament the effects of 
this war, but when we lose our relations and friends, 
these lesser evils will soon be forgotten. We have some 
faint hopes of peace; yet the British by the astounding 
revolution in Europe have secured a peace with all 
other nations and can therefore turn all their strength 
and force against us".t 

What these "lesser evils" referred to were, may be 
gathered from a letter from Dr. Ebenezer Sage, written 
from Sag Harbor July 24, 1814. "This place consisting 
of about 200 houses has been built up [again] since the 
Revolution by honest industry in catching whale and 
codfish. The people are not very rich except a few, 
mostly mechanics and laborers with large families. The 
Orders in Council put an end to all our prosperity and 
war is fast making them poor and wretched. It is 
distressing to see the changes that a few years have 
produced among us, perhaps near 20 of my neighbors 
who were formerly Captains, Mates, sailors of vessels, 
carpenters, sail makers, boat builders and in good cir- 
cumstances are now reduced to the necessity of doing 
Garrison duty to get rations to feed, and a little money 
with which to clothe their families. W^e formerly had 
20 or 25 coasting vessels employed in the southern 
trade, and in carrying wood, &c., to market. 3 or 4 of 
fNews, Mar. 4, 1910. 



148 MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 

them only remain, some of them have been taken and 
sent to Hahfax, others burnt and others so often taken 
and ransomed that the owners are unable to keep them 
in repair, and sail them, and they are either sunk at the 
wharf or laid up to rot in creeks and inlets. Our young 
men have generally gone into the Army or Flotilla ser- 
vice at New York, or emigrated in search of business; 
nothing to be seen but houses stript of their furniture, 
and as we expect to be burnt, sent out of reach of the 
conflagration.''* 

"Dr. Rufus Rose", continues Mr. Cook, "a brother of 
Gen. Abraham, was born March 19, 1775, and died June 
9, 1835, and was a surgeon of militia. He acquired his 
education as a physician under the professors attached 
to Columbia University, New York, and practiced at 
Bridgehampton from ?)7 to 40 years. He was a man of 
literary tastes and ability, by nature refined and patri- 
otic, and had the development of the young nation at 
heart, giving to this matter the most undivided and 
constant attention. A\'hen the attack on Sag Harbor 
l)egan he was teaching school in the old Hay Ground 
school house. When the guns at Sag Harbor began to 
boom, one a minute for 3 minutes, then silence for 3 
minutes, then one a minute again and so on,t the doctor 
dismissed his school, and, as an eye witness told me, 
took the longest steps he ever saw taken up the Hay 
Ground hill, going east and toward Sag Harbor. Soon 
the minute guns at Bridgehampton and Southampton 
and westward also began to thunder their call for 
troops, and all the roads were soon filled with hurrying 
soldiers, all converging toward one point, Sag Harbor. 
Some on foot, some on horseback, some in farm wagons, 
and some in ox-cart, but all in great haste, and under 
intense excitement, some getting into their uniforms as 
they went. The booming of the minute guns, the 

* Sketch of Dr. Sage. 

X .It was at these intervals that the "Minute Guns" were fired. 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON ]49 

masses of soldiers rushing through the streets, the 
weeping women bidding adieu to husbands, the squeak- 
ing of fife and rattle of the drum, combined to create a 
scene never to be forgotten by those who were wit- 
nesses. 

"Elisha Halsey was born Sept. 11, 1776, and died Oct. 
20, 1859, and was drummer of his company. When he 
reached Sag Harbor, he was ordered out into the street 
near the head of the wharf to call his company to form 
in line of battle. The enemy had already landed and 
held possession of the wharf and were firing cannon up 
the street. Limbs were falling from the trees, solid 
shot was screaming overhead, houses were being shat- 
tered and pandemonium reigned generally, and the old 
man, who played for me on the very drum he then 
carried, told me that when in obedience to the orders of 
his superior, he stepped out into the street, every hair 
seemed to stand up straight on his head, and his hat 
on the top of them".* 

"Col. David Haines was born Oct. 1, 1776, and died 
Feb. 18, 1856. At the time of the British attack on Sag 
Harbor he was captain of a company of mihtia stationed 
there with other military forces for the protection of the 
town and incidentally for the whole east end of Long 
Island. As a kind of relief from garrison duty and for 
exercise and recreation for his command he marched 
them up one day to his home at Hay Ground and 
treated them according to the custom of the day to 
varied refreshments and afterward marched them back 
to Sag Harbor again. At that time the father of the 
writer was about 6 years old and with the little son of 
a neighbor was out playing near the house when sud- 
denly they heard a fife and drum and looking up saw a 
company of soldiers coming over the hill north of the 
Scuttle Hole Pond. They, as they afterwards said, 
thought their time had come, and screaming 'the red 
*News, Mar. 4, 1910. 



150 MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 

coats are coming! the red coats are coming!' took to 
their heels — they had caught sight of Capt. Haines' 
company on its march. The Captain afterwards be- 
came a Colonel and also a member and ruling elder in 
the Bridgehampton Presbyterian Church''. 

"Ellis A. Squires died Nov. 17, 1853, at the age of 75 
years 11 months. He had been a sailor and a privateer 
but in 1814 was at home and member of a militia com- 
pany. He was at work in the fields when the call came 
to defend Sag Harbor; instantly, like Israel Putnam, 
he took one of the horses from the team and stopping 
only long enough to equip himself, sprang upon its 
back and hurried to the port and there stayed until his 
services were no longer required. He was a son of Al- 
bert E. Squires who was a soldier in the French and 
Indian War and also in the Revolution * * * 

"Theophilus Cook was born Oct. 27, 1761, and died 
June 16, 1842. He was a sailor, one of the company that 
manned the sloop-of-war Beaver, a privateer that car- 
ried a force of 80 men. While in this service 11 prizes 
were taken, in all of which he shared".* 

Another 1812 man was Rodney Parker of whom Mr. 
Henry Squires, who knew him, wrote in the News of 
May 20, 1910, "Mr. Parker was a man of great intelH- 
gence, very patriotic, interesting in conversation and a 
fine musician. * * * He enlisted on one of the 
privateers. (I think it was the Wasp) and followed her 
fortunes on the high seas through many adventures and 
encounters with the enemy. I now can recall the par- 
ticulars of but one of these exploits; this was in mid- 
ocean with a strongly armed British ship, and was a 
stubborn and thrilling fight. They exchanged many 
broadsides with the enemy and after a long time got in 
position to rake her decks but could not compel her to 
surrender until their commander laid his ship alongside 
and gave an order for the boarders to rush the enemy's 

*A. M. Cook in the News, May 6, 1910, 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 151 

decks. In this encounter, as Mr. Parker went over the 
rail, he received a blow on the head from a cutlass which 
laid him prostrate and senseless. He Was fortunate 
enough to have parried this vicious blow in part or it 
would have killed him on the spot — as it was he carried 
the scar to the end of his days. He told with pride and 
glee how his comrades were finally successful in the 
struggle and took the enemy into Philadelphia as a 
prize". 

At the end of this Chapter, will be found the list of 
Bridgehampton men who again went forth to fight in 
the War of '61. The list is too long for special men- 
tion, and I will here give the life of Col. Edwin Rose, 
only, after whom is named the Edwin Rose Post, No. 
274, Dept. of N. Y. G. A. R. 

A son of Dr. Rufus Rose, he was born at Hay Ground 
Feb. 14, 1807, died at Jamaica, L. I., Jan. 12, 1864, from 
heart disease, which had caused his resignation while 
serving in the Army of the Potomac. He graduated 
from West Point 1830, being assigned to 3rd Artillery, 
stationed at New London where he married the daugh- 
ter of Gen. Jirah Isham, a leading lawyer of the state. 
He served in the Black Hawk and Seminole Wars, and 
was detailed to survey the shores of Lakes Huron and 
Michigan. He resigned his commission in 1838 and 
entered the service of the then Territory of Michigan, 
among otiier things locating the state capital, and mak- 
ing the prehminary survey for the Michigan Central 
R. R. He returned to Bridgehampton in 1840 and lived 
here 20 years, being School Commissioner, Justice of 
the Peace, Supervisor and a member of the Legislature 
1848, 1849 and 1857. At the outbreak of the war in 
1861 he offered his services and was commissioned Col- 
onel of the 81st N. Y. Vols. He participated in the Pe- 
ninsular Campaign, and when his health prevented his 



152 MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 

remaining at the front, Lincoln appointed him Provost 
Marshall for the district of Long Island.* 

The following is the record of the Soldiers and Sail- 
ors who served in the war of the Rebellion, buried, 
born in, or enlisted from Bridge-Hampton (being Elec- 
tion District No. 2) Town of Southampton, Suffolk Co., 
N. Y. 

BROWN, Charles, Corporal, Co. E, 11th N. Y. Cavalry, enlisted 
Jan. 29th, '62. Died at New Orleans, Aug. 22, '64, buried on Jack- 
son Battle Field. 

BYRON, John, Co. E, 6th N. Y. Cavalry. Dead. 

BECKTILL, Andrew J., Private, Co. K, 127th N. Y. Infantry, 
enlisted Sept. 8th, '62. 

BROWN, Wm. H. H., Private, Co. K, 127th N. Y. Infantry, en- 
listed Sept. 8th, '62. 

BELL, Geo. A., Private, Co. E, 11th N. Y. Cavalry, enlisted Jan. 
29th, '62. 

BRUDGEWORTH, Fred, Navy. 

BRUDGEWORTH, Henry, Private, Co. E, 11th N. Y. Cavalry. 
Enlisted Jan. 29th, '62. 

BREWIN, George, Private, Co. H, 81st N. Y. Infantry, enlisted 
Dec. 20th, '!M. 

BACON, Jas., Private, Co. H, 81st N. Y. Died, yellow fever. 

BENEDICT, R. F. Private, Co. K, 127th N. Y. Regt. 

BROWN, Charles, Private, Co. K, 127th N. Y. Regt. 

COREY, Wm., Private, Co. E, 11th N. Y. Cavalry, enlisted Jan. 
29th, '62. Died at home, of chronic diarrhoea. 

COREY, Henry J., Private, Co. K, 127th N. Y. Infantry, enlisted 
Sept. 8th, '62. 

DIMON, Nathan H., Sr., Musician, 81st N. Y. Infantry, enlisted 
Dec. 20th, '61. 

DIMON, Nathan H., Jr., Private, Co. H, 81st N. Y. Infantry, 
enlisted Oct. 17th, '61. 

DIX, John, Private, Co. F, 6th N. Y. Cavalry, enlisted Oct. '61. 
Discharged Oct. '64. Served 3 years. 

EDWARDS, Orlando B., Private, Co. K, 127th N. Y. Infantry, en- 
listed Sept. 8th, '62. 

EDWARDS, Lewis J., Private, Co. H, 48th N. Y. Infantry, en- 
listed Aug. '61. Served during the war. 

EDWARDS, Charles Dix, Private, Co. F, 6th N. Y. Cavalry, en- 
listed Oct. '61. Discharged Oct. '64. Served 3 years. 

EDWARDS, Edmund B., Private, Co. K, 127th N. Y. Infantry, 
enlisted Aug. '62. Discharged '64. Physical disability. 

EDWARDS, Elbert P., Private, Co. F, 6th N. Y. Cavalry, enlisted 
Oct. '61. Re-enlisted in '64, N. Y. Heavy Artillery, Co. C. 

EDWARDS, Charles N., Private, Co. F, 127th N. Y. Infantry, en- 
listed Aug. '62. Discharged Aug. '65. Served 3 years. 

ELLISTON, John, Private, Co. E, 11th N. Y. Cavalry, enlisted 
Jan. 29th, '62. 

*See A. M. Cook in the "Story of a Celebration". 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 153 

ELLISTON, Joseph, Private, Co. K, 81st N. Y. Infantry, enlisted 
Dec. '61. Killed June 2d, '64, at Battle of Cold Harbor. 

ELLISTON, Joshua, Private, Co. K, 81st N. Y. Infantry, enlisted 
Dec. 20th, '61. 

FRANCIS, Roger A., Captain, 81st N. Y. Infantry, enlisted Oct., 
'61. 

FOSTER, James R., Co. D, 2d N. Y. Cavalry. Died at Anderson- 
ville Prison, April 6th, '64. 

GREGORY, Dennis, Private, Co. K, 17th Mich. Infantry. 

GOUGH, John, Musician, Co. K, 81st N. Y. Infantry, enlisted 
Dec. 20th, '61. 

GOODALL, Charles. Dead. 

HALSEY, Charles E., Surgeon, 40th N. Y. Infantry. Died of 
typhoid fever. 

HALSEY, Sydney E., Private, Co. K, 127th N. Y. Infantry, en- 
listed Sept. 8th, '62. Died of fever. 

HALSEY, E. Erastus, Private, Co. K, 127th N. Y. Infantry, 
enlisted Sept. 8th, '62. Served during the war. Wounded. 

HALSEY, A. Asbury, Sergeant, Co. K, 127th N. Y. Infantry, 
enlisted Sept. 8th, '62. Served during the war. 

HALSEY, Silas E., Private, Co. K, 127th N. Y. Infantry, enlisted 
Sept., '62. Killed at Devaux Neck, Dec. 6th, '63. 

HALSEY, Charles, Private, Co. A, 46th Illinois Infantry. Served 
during the war. 

HALSEY, Wm. M., Private, Co. K, 127th N. Y. Infantry, enlisted 
Sept. 8th, '62. Served during the war. 

HALSEY, Oliver, Private, Co. E, 6th N. Y. Cavalry. 

HALSEY, Henry, 5th N. Y. Duryea's Zouaves. Served during 
the war. 

HAND, Edwin, C, Captain, Co. B, 11th N. Y. Cavalry, enlisted 
March 2d, '62. Served during the war. Died at home since the war. 

HOWELL, Orlando J., Private, Co. H, 81st N. Y. Infantry, en- 
listed Dec. 20th, '61. Served during the war. 

HAND, Orlando, Captain, Co. E, 11th N. Y. Cavalry. Discharged 
for physical disability. 

HOWELL, Samuel H, Acting Ensign, Navy. 

HAINES, Theodore F., Private, Co. K, 127th N. Y. Infantry, 
enlisted Sept. 8th, '62. Served during the war. 

HUNKER, Flora, Navy. 

HUMPHREY, Arthur, Private, Co. K, 127th N. Y. Infantry, 
enlisted Sept. 8th, '62. Served through the war. 

HALEY, Dennis, Private, Co. E, 11th N. Y. Cavalry, enlisted Dec. 
8th, '61. Served during the war. 

HUNTTING, Henry, 4th Illinois Cavalry. Killed at Jackson, 
Miss., Jan. 2d, '65. 

HEDGES, Lyman, Private, Co. K, 127th N. Y. Infantry, enlisted 
Sept. 8th, '62. Killed. 

HOWELL, Jas., Private, Co. H, 81st N. Y. Infantry, enlisted 
Dec. 20th, '61. 

HOMAN, Gilbert. Died of measles. 

HILDRETH, Isaac N., Corporal, Co. G, 127th N. Y. Infantry, 
enlisted Sept. 8th, '62. Discharged July 7th, '65. Served during 
the war. 

HOWELL, John, 6th Cavalry. 



154 MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMFTON 

JEWETT, Wm., Private, Co. K, 81st N. Y. Infantry, enlisted 
Oct. 17th, '61. 

KENNEDY, Patrick, Co. E, 11th N. Y. Cavalry. Died. 

McDonald, Michael, 6th N. Y. Cavalry. 

MILLER, Nathaniel, 1st, Private, Co. E, 11th N. Y. Cavalry. 

MILLER, Nathaniel, 2d, Private, Co. K, 127th N. Y. Infantry. 

McGUIRCK, Frank, Duryea's Zouaves. Killed at Spotsylvania 
Court House. 

McGUIRCK, John, Navy. 

MORRIS, Geo. C, Private, Co. H, 16th Conn. Vols., enlisted 
Aug. 6th, '62. Discharged July 8th, '65. 

MARRON, Thomas, Private, Co. K, 127th N. Y. Infantry, en- 
listed Sept. 8th, '62. 

MULLEN, Jas., Regular Army. 

LOPER, Benjamin, Co. K, 127th N. Y. Infantry. 

LOPER, Henry, Private, Co. H, 81st N. Y. Infantry, enlisted 
Dec. 20th, '61. Killed June 2d at Cold Harbor, 1864. 

OVERTON, Richard, 168th N. Y. Infantry. Drafted. 

POUNDER Edward, Private, Co. E, 11th N. Y. Cavalry, en- 
listed Dec. 10th, '61. Served during the war. 

PIERSON, David, Private, Co. K, 127th N. Y. Infantry, enlisted 
Sept. 8th, '62. 

POLLY, Wm., Private, Co. F, 6th N. Y. Cavalry, enlisted Oct., '61. 

PAYNE, Jeremiah, Corporal, Co. K, 127th N. Y. Infantry, en- 
listed Sept. 8th, '62. Died of typhoid fever, Aug. 14th, '63. 

PAYNE, Thomas, Private, Co. K, 127th N. Y. Infantry, enlisted 
Sept. 8th, '63. 

ROSE, Edwin, Colonel, 81st N. Y. Infantry, enlisted Oct. '61. 

ROSE, Fred'k, Private, Co. H, 127th N. Y. Infantry, enlisted 
Sept. 8th, '62. 

ROGERS, Benj. F., Private, Co. H, 81st N. Y. Infantry, enlisted 
Dec. 20th, '61. 

RYLANDS, Wm., Private, Co. H, 81st N. Y. Infantry, enlisted 
Dec. 20th, '61. Wounded in Battle of Wilderness. 

RYDER. Wm., Private, 133d N. Y. Infantry. Drafted. 

REDFIELD, Cha's, Co. H, 81st N. Y. Infantry. Killed at the 
Battle of Fair Oaks. 

RUGG, Geo. Benj., Navy. 

STRONG, Jas. M., Private, Co. K, 127th N. Y. Infantry, Sept. 
8th, '62. 

SQUIRES, Henry, Captain, Co. H, 81st N. Y. Infantry, enlisted 
Oct. 17th, '61. 

SANDFORD, Henry M., Private, Co. H, 81st N. Y. Infantry, en- 
listed Dec. 20th, '61. Served during the war. 

SAYRE, Mathew, Private, Co. K, 127th Regt. 

SAYRE. James, Private, Co. K, 127th Regt. 

STANLEY, William H., Serg't, Co. I, 4th R. I. Kegt. 

TOPPING, Wm. Owen, Lieutenant, Co. C, 7th Wis. Infantry. 
Killed at Fredericksburg. 

TOPPING, M. Howell, Captain, Co. B, 100th N. Y. Infantry. 

TOPPING, Albert, Navy. 

TULLY, Walter, Private, Co. E, 11th N. Y. Cavalry. 

TERRY, Ja's B., Corporal, Co. K, 127th N. Y. Infantry. 

WOOD, Geo., Private, Co. K, 127th N. Y. Infantry, enlisted 
Sept. 8th, '62. 



MEMOmALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 155 

• WARREN, Timothy, Sergt., Co. K, 127th N. Y. Infantry, en- 
listed Sept. 8th, '62. 

WORTHINGTON, Edwin, Navy. Died in the service. 

WRIGHT, Nathan H., Assistant Surgeon, 10th Conn. Infantry. 
Died March 16th, 1877. 

YOUNGS, John F., Lieutenant, Co. K, 81st N. Y. Infantry, en- 
listed Oct. 17th, '61. Served 3 years. 



CHAPTER VIII 
EARLY XIXTH CENTURY, SCHOOLS, THE LIBRARY, ETC. 

After the \\'ar of 1812, peace settled once more upon 
the villages at the east end, and the people resumed 
their quiet life, to he unhroken by the alarms of war fo. 
nearly 50 years. 

That life although no longer subject to all the hard- 
ships and privations of the early frontier, was still very 
primitive and simple by the Bridgehampton standards 
of today. Hardly anything was bought, almost every- 
thing made — caps, hats, shoes, clothes, linen, wool, 
candles, in fact almost the whole range of personal and 
household goods were produced in the village itself. As 
to the candles, it was only later, when still made at 
home, that they were even moulded, and Mr. W. D. 
Halsey tells me that as a boy he has often seen his 
grandmother making them by "dipping". Flax wheels, 
wool reels, &c., were part of every girl's outfit when 
married, and in the schools of that day, net only did the 
girls eml)roider samplers, but the very cotton or linen 
on which they embroidered was also made by them at 
home. 

"Nothing was l)ought", wrote Judge Hedges of his 
childhood, "that could be made at home. The spinning 
wheel was constantly running", and carried in visits to 
neighbors. * * * Winter, cold, cheerless, shiver- 
ing- winter tried soul and body. I remember the one 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 157 

iire on the hearth of a cold dark morning, so cold that 
a blanket hung from the hooks in the wall, encircled the 
family and fire as an additional protection from the 
cold. * * * The simplest, cheapest diet satisfied 
the appetite. * * * "The family meal was eaten 
from wooden trenchers or pewter plates and platters, 
with the smallest possible allowance of tin and crockery 
ware. * * * Xhe old sat, the young stood, around 
the breakfast table. A dish of meat cut in pieces ready 
for eating was in the middle of the table. All hands 
broke the Johnny cake in small pieces and with the 
fork dipped it in the gravy held in the meat dish, and 
occasionally speared out a piece of meat in the same 
way. It was a cold, frugal, hard, narrow, severe winter 
life"".* 

Books were still very scarce in the homes and even 
the music books used in Church were for the most part 
of home manufacture. A few printed ones there were 
in the village — at first the Bay Psalm book and others 
later — but, as a rule, these were borrowed, and carefully- 
copied out, words and music both, with a quill pen, and 
each girl made her own. Many of these are still pre- 
served and I have seen several of them, among others 
some beautifully made by Mr. W. D. Halsey's great 
grandmother some 115 years ago.f The old music in 
church was all sung by note and the hymns were always 
"lined out", the note being given by the gamut or pitch 
pipe used during the service. 

Although some had clocks, yet there was an hour 
glass in practically every house, of which at least one is 
yet preserved, and in many houses there was a "sun 

*Hist. of East Hampton, p. 19. 

fShe was Jerusha Halsey, died Aug. 29, 1843, aged 92. Judge 
Hedges wrote of her, "she was a woman of strong character and 
saintly faith. In a terrible thunder storm her family proposed 
moving into another room. She said, 'Stand still and see the 
salvation of God'. They did so and the other room was soon 
struck, so hard that if there, death would have been their fate". 
News, Oct. 7, 1910. 



1 5S MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 

mark" on some window sill to mark noon. Cooking 
was still done over the open fire and the baking in a 
brick oven in the side of the chimney. Agriculture was 
as yet carried on by the old methods, and with little 
use of fertilizer or care for the land, except the few 
acres near home. Sometimes as much as 10 acres per 
head were required for pasturage. The sheep of the 
village were still looked after by a jointly appointed 
shepherd and grazed along the highways. On Saturday 
night he would go home until Monday, and for the sake 
of the fertilizer, people would bid for the privilege of 
caring for the flock over Sunday, which cu-stom lasted 
well into th nineteenth century. Every pond, even 
though on private property had a lane fenced down to 
it from the highway so that the cattle or stock pastured 
there could get down to drink.* 

In all the early inventories, in which every article, 
valuable or otherwise, seems to have been entered, 
there is never any mention of chickens or other fowl, 
but that at one time they must have formed a conspicu- 
ous feature in the local farming landscape is to be in- 
ferred from the following poem from the pen of a local 
poetess, which I have found in an old scrap book. 

BRIDGEHAMPTON CHICKENS 

I've travelled through this country, from Missouri to 

to Montauk, 
Sometimes I've rode in palace cars, sometimes I've had 

to walk ; 
And talked with many people all over this broad land 
But for talking about chickens, Bridgehampton "l)eats 

the band." 

*The year 1762 must have been a terrible one for farmers, for 
no rain fell on Long Island or in the City of New York from early 
in May until November. This is recorded as the most remarkable 
drought ever known in this country. Furman, Antiquities of Long 
Island, p. 91. 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 159 

Arriving in the evening, I found they had for tea 

A heaping dish of scrambled eggs, as good as good 

could be. 
The hostess sat beside me and told me while I ate, 
"If t'vv^arn't for hens, we'd starve to death." I thought, 

oh ! dreadful fate. 

Next morning being Sunday, hours and hours too soon 

for church, 
I was wakened by the crowing of the chickens on the 

perch; 
Such a cackling, cawing, screeching, that to try to sleep 

was vain. 
So I went downstairs to breakfast — there was ham and 

eggs again. 

We found on going to meeting a crowd around the gate 

In earnest conversation as serious as fate, 

And when we came up closer, we heard the speaker 

say, 
"And feed it to 'em bilin' hot, you bet it makes 'em lay". 

The preacher read a chapter about the good old hen 
Who gathers in her chickens as God does souls of men, 
And then he preached the sermon, but I smiled at what 

came next, 
For the cock that crowed at Peter was the Sunday 

morning text. 

We came home again to dinner — two roosters in a pie, 
"They wouldn't lay — I killed 'em", said the hostess 

with a sigh. 
And then we had a caller, who told the price of eggs 
And what had cured his chickens of scales upon their 

leers. 



IGO MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMFTON 

And when we went to visit, the talk was just the same, 
'Twas "Brahmas", "Houdans", "Plymouth Rocks", and 

every other name. 
And how" some hens were "setters", and some hens 

wouldn't "set", 
\\'hile some hatched out all roosters — that was the 

worst fault yet. 

They couldn't change the subject I'm sure if they were 

hired, 
They talked of hens and chickens till my very soul was 

tired. 
And fed me on young roosters for breakfast, dinner, 

tea, 
Until I dreamed pin feathers sprouted out all over me. 

I left that little village, with its troops of cackling hens, 
A\'ith its broods of downy chickens and its dirty chicken 

pens. 
I shall hate the chicken business as long as I have 

breath, 
And I wouldn't eat a rooster if I knew I'd starve to 

death. 

And when I meet old Peter, just beside the pearly gate. 
If he says "Your life don't suit me and outside you'll 

have to wait", 
I'll whisper just a sentence, for I know his heart 'twill 

win. 
That I hate both cocks and pullets — then he'll say 

"Dear child, come in". 

Hannah Elliston. 

The above picture of an earlier age. even in the ab- 
sence of specific records, would seem to indicate the pres- 
ence of fowl in Bridgehampton. 

Some of the old farming implements are yet pre- 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON IGl 

served, and the barn of Mr. W. D. Halsey is a veritable 
museum of the relics of this past age. In the attics of 
many old houses, may be found, as Mr. Jagger wrote, 
"the flax crackle, the hatchel, spinning wheel, the swifts, 
the loom, maybe the sickle, the grain cradle and the 
flail, the old tin, iron or brass candlesticks, with tray and 
snuffers, the old iron kettle in which tallow was heated 
and the moulds in which candles were run, the old tin 
lantern in which a lighted candle barely made dark- 
ness visible, the bellows, the foot stove and the warm- 
ing pan. All these we have seen in practical use by our 
parents".* 

Some goods came in from outside, however, and 
clothes were made outside the home, for I have found 
the following advertisements in the "American Eagle 
and Suffolk County General Advertiser" of Nov. 14, 
1818. 

NEW 
GOODS 

The subscribers respectfully inform their friends and the public 
in general that they have just received from New York a good as- 
sortment of Groceries. & some Dry Goods, which they offer for sale 
at their store cheap for CASH or most kinds of country produce. 

N. HILDRETH & CO. 
Bridgehampton, Oct. 31, 1818. 



PREPARE FOR 
WINTER ! ! ! 

The Clothier's establishment belonging to the subscribers are 
now in successful operation under the superintendance of a steady 
and highly approved workman. Those who wish an early turn 
would do well to forward their cloth soon or leave it at the usual 
places. 

Neatness and despatch may be depended on. Most kinds of 
produce will be taken in payment. 

WHITE & HEDGES 

N. B. One carding machine will still continue to operate. 

Bridgehampton, Oct. 3, 1818. 



*W. L. Jagger, paper, read before the Farmers' Institute, South- 
ampton, March, 1907. 



162 MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 

The paper in which the above advertisements were 
printed is also of interest as having been pubhshed by a 
Bridgehampton man, Mr. Samuel A. Seabury, and tra- 
dition states that it was for a short time printed in 
Bridgehampton itself. His printing office was on land 
now owned by Mr. Henry Howell on the Main Street, 
a little east of Norris Lane, and old types have occas- 
ionally been found in the ground there. The paper was 
founded as the "Suffolk County Recorder" in 1816, the 
name changed in 1817 and the paper discontinued 
sometime in 1820. In 1821 Mr. Seabury moved to 
Huntington and began the publication of another 
paper with the same title which was altered in 1825 to 
"The Long Island Journal of Philosophy and Cabinet 
of Variety." This was published by Samuel Fleet, as 
Mr. Seabury had sold his interest and removed to 
Stonington, Conn., where he died in 1824.* There is 
a tradition that another paper, called the "Sufifolk 
County Gazette" was published here in 1812 or 1813 
but I have l)een unable to verify it. 

In his "Memories of a Long Life," Judge Hedges 
said that in 1834 or 5, when he and his schoolmates, 
Augustus Howell and Henry Gardiner, made a trip to 
New York, New Haven and Hartford, "the tide of 
travel was by packet from Sag Harbor to New York," 
and that they went in the sloop Gen. Warren, racing 
the other packet sloop, James Lazvrence all the way 
from Sag Harbor, getting into Peck Slip just ahead of 
her. This must have been a far pleasanter method 
than the slow and dusty stage ride over the old sandy 
roads through the woods, at the rate set forth in the fol- 
lowing advertisements from the "Corrector" of Dec. 30, 
1826. 

*He was grandfather of my neighbor, Mr. Egbert Seabury. 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 163 

Sag Harbor and New York 

STAGE 

Through in two days! 
The subscribers will start a stage to run 

EVERY OTHER WEEK 
from Sag Harbor to New York as follows: — 

Will start from the Union Hotel Sag Harbor, on Friday the 8th 
of December at 6 o'clock A. M. breakfast at S. Griffing's at WEST- 
HAMPTON, & arrive at J. Rowe's PATCHOGUE same night. On 
the next day, breakfast at E. Dodd's BABYLON, and arrive the 
same evening at BROOKLYN. 

START from BROOKLYN, Monday at 6 o'clock A. M. breakfast 
at HEMPSTEAD, and arrive at A Gardiner's, FIRE-PLACE, 
same evening; breakfast next morning at "WEST-HAMPTON, 
and arrive at SAG HARBOR same evening. 

FARE $5 

SILAS PAYNE 
Sag Harbor, November 25th, 1826 



FIREPLACE AND PATCHOGUE 
STAGE 

The subscriders in connection with E. Dodd, and Seamon, 
have commenced Running a line of 

STAGES 
Between BROOKLYN & FIRE PLACE 
once a week, under the following regulations: — 

To start from the house of Mr. Samuel Carmons, at Fireplace 
every Wednesday Evening at 5 o'clock and lodge at the house of 
the subscriber, in Patchogue, that night, and leave the house of 
the subscriber at 5 Thursday morning, and arrive at Brooklyn at 
4 o'clock P. M. — Returning leave the house of Coe S. Downing at 
Brooklyn every Saturday morning at 7 o'clock A. M. and arrive at 
PATCHOGUE the same evening. 

Passengers will be carried to any part of Long-Island on the 
most favorable terms by the SUBSCRIBER from Patchogue. 

The company having furnished themselves with new and com- 
fortable Carriages solicit a share of public patronage, as they are 
determined that nothing shall be wanting on their part to make 
the route agreeable. — Fare from Brooklyn to Fireplace $2.25, to 
Patchogue $1.75. 

JAMES WOODHULL & CO. 
Patchogue June 1, 1826 



104 MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 

The first stage route had been estabhshed in 1772 by 
Samuel Nicolls, Benj. Havens and Nathan Fordham, 
and was operated between Sag Harbor and Brooklyn. 
The trip took 3 days and cost $2.25, "goods per hundred 
one penny a mile and baggage as usual." To go back 
to a still earlier time and method, a certain resident of 
North Sea in 1658. who had to go to New York to get 
his commission as Justice of the Peace, made the whole 
journey on the back of a bull. 

I have also found advertisements of packet lines run- 
ning between Sag Harbor and Middletown, Conn ; 
Sag Harbor and New London, "thrice a week;" to 
Southold every Saturday ; and a daily boat to Shelter 
Island. This latter was called the Lady Clinton, and 
the advertisement is signed "S. Conklin, who promises 
his boat, like the Lord of her namesake, can and i<'itl go 
against zvind and fide.'' 

After the railroad was l)uilt to Greenport in 1844, the 
mail for the Hamptons was carried thence, by way of 
the ferries and Shelter Island to Sag Harbor and so 
over by stage, and on Jan. 28, 1826, Mr. Hugh Halsey 
inserts a notice in the "Corrector," that "all papers to 
l)e recorded in the Assistant Clerk's office for Suffolk 
County, and left with Mr. Luther D. Cook at Sag Har- 
bor will be received once or twice a week by the Sub- 
scriber."* 

The Post Office had been established here on April 1, 
1795, while that at Sagg was not opened until April 23, 
1878. (The latter was officially called Sagg until Feb. 
21, 1890, when the name was changed to Sagaponack.) 
Thirty years before the establishing of the Post Office 
here, a post road had been set up in 1765, the riders 
going on horse back. The circuit was 239 miles, the 

*Hugh Halsey, son of Dr. Stephen Halsey, was bom in Mecox 
June 26, 1794, d. May 29, 1858; grad. Yale 1814; Mem. N. Y. State 
Assembly 1823-4; Surrogate 1827-40; first Judge 1833-47; Presi- 
dential Elector and Sec'y of Electoral Body 1844; Surveyor Gen- 
eral 1845-8; Senator 1854-5. 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 1G5 

route being New York, Brooklyn, Jamaica, Smithtown, 
"Griffin's at Riverhead," Southold, Shelter Island, Hog- 
neck, Sag Harbor, East Hampton, Southampton, and 
so, west, back to New York. The 'Tost Circuit" road 
was continued until the Revolution. During the war of 
1812 Capt. Uriah Sayre drove the mail stage from Sag 
Harbor to Brooklyn, the trip taking four days, along the 
South Shore, and for a while he carried the entire Long 
Island mail for New York, from Jamaica on. 

Even after the railroad was established, communica- 
tion was not always assured in winter, for there is an 
item in the "Corrector" under date of Feb. 7, 1857, 
which reads, "the Long Island cars have not been 
through since the 23d of December, 1856. Our stock of 
paper is exhausted." (At that time the Atlantic Ocean 
was frozen for 2 miles from shore.) 

With difficulty of communication old habits and cus- 
toms lingered on, and I am told that the old supersti- 
tions did too. Black cats still brought ill luck a century 
ago ; on entering a new house for the first time one 
always carried a Bible, a broom and salt; a rabbit's foot, 
here as well as in "old Virginny" was protection from 
untoward happenings; one snuffed a candle carefully 
so as not to make a "winding sheet;" every new born 
child was invariably carried up stairs before it was 
taken down; and a horseshoe on the hog trough kept 
away the witches. While it is to the credit of the town 
that there was never a case of witchcraft seriously con- 
sidered here, nevertheless somewhat before the middle 
of the last century there was an "herb doctor," or 
"witch doctor" by the name of Cyrus Huntting whom 
people did not particularly care to cross, and whose in- 
fluence on hogs was, to say the least, not always re- 
garded as salutary. 

Even the love of law suits had not entirely disap- 
peared, although, as by this time lawyers were em- 
ployed, they were much more in the nature of luxuries. 



I(i6 MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMFTON 

One of the most noted in the early part of the century 
was the famous "Fox Case" or "Pierson vs. Post," 
which I here give in the words of Judge Hedges. 

"The facts connected with it were these : Jesse Pier- 
son, son of Capt. David, coming from Amagansett, saw 
a fox run and hide down an unused well near Peter's 
Pond, and killed and took the fox. Lodowick Post and 
a company with him were in pursuit and chasing the 
fox, and saw Jesse with it and claimed it as theirs, while 
Jesse persisted in his claim. Capt. Pierson said his son 
Jesse should have the fox and Capt. Post said the same 
of his son Lodowick and hence the law suit contested 
and appealed to the highest court in the State, which 
decided that Post had not got possession of the fox 
when Pierson killed it and that he had no property in it 
as against Pierson until he had reduced it into his own 
possession. This became the leading case often cited, 
because it established, and I think for the first time, by 
the court of last resort in the State, that to give an in- 
dividual right in wild animals, the claimant must cap- 
ture them. To the public the decision was worth its 
cost. To the parties, who each expended over a thous- 
and pounds, the fox cost very dear."* 

Although the Judge whose words I have just quoted 
here, and so frequently elsewhere, did not move to 
Bridgehampton until 1854, and the main part of his life 
here falls in a period I have not intended to write of in 
detail, this book owes so much to his researches 
that I wish here to acknowledge my debt. For long 
the oldest living graduate of Yale, always an interested, 
able and indefatigable student of the history of the two 
eastern Townships, a member of Assembly, County 
Judge, Surrogate, ardent Temperance advocate, the his- 
torical orator at many anniversary celebrations, includ- 
ing both the 200th and 250th celebration of the found- 
ing of East Hampton, he died full of years and honors 

*Story of a Celebration, p. 60. 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 107 

in 1911, aged 94. He was born in Wainscott Oct. 13, 
1817, moved to East Hampton 1831, where he attended 
CHnton Academy. He graduated from Yale in 1838, 
attended Yale Law School 1839, studied in the oftice of 
David L. Seymour of Troy, N. Y. 1840 and of Hon. 
George Miller, Riverhead, until 1842.. In 1843 he went 
to Sag Harbor, living and practising law there until 
1854, when he moved to Bridgehampton but kept his 
office in Sag Harbor until 1893. In 1851 he took part in 
the famous Montauk lawsuit, was a member of the 
state Assembly 1852, District Attorney of Suffolk 
County 1861-64, County Judge and Surrogate 1865- 
1870, 1873-1880, and President of the. Sag Harbor Sav- 
ings Bank 1869-99, as well as occupying other positions 
of trust and responsibility. He married first Gloriana 
Osborn 1843, and second Mary G. Hildreth 1892, who 
still survives, and who, as well as his son, Mr. Samuel O. 
Hedges, has given me help in this work. He died Sept. 
26, 1911. 

To return to Bridgehampton of a century ago, John 
Wick, as we have seen, early kept the tavern at Bull 
Head, and there was another on the Mott corner at 
Poxabogue kept by a Gardiner family, while drink was 
also sold at stores in Sagg and Mecox. A little later 
what was known as the Atlantic House also became a 
tavern. Speaking of the "Brushy Plain" as it was when 
he was a boy in the 30's of the last century, the late Mr. 
C. H. Hildreth wrote, "Tradition says that Col. John 
Hurlbut built on lot No. 17. He was a military man 
and joined Washington's army and drilled the troops. 
When he left Bridgehampton he sold his place to Ab- 
raham Topping who gave it to his daughter the wife of 
Dr. Samuel Rose and mother of Judge Abraham Top- 
ping Rose. When I was a boy the Hurlbut house still 
stood on the corner where Mr. Corwith's house now 
stands. It was called the widow Rose's house. It was 
1^ story house with hip roof, stood well up from the 



168 MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 

ground, had a stoop at the front door and blinds to the 
windows. It appeared to be in a good state of preser- 
vation. The old l)uttonwoods stood by the corner and 
two or three old pear trees near the house.* * * * 
Dr. S. R. Corwith's house had been newly built by Capt. 
Wm. Topping. The cart path turned the corner nearby 
up to the front door, no tree or shrub added their beauty 
to the scene. It required the magic hand of our late 
friend Dr. J. L. Gardiner to develop the present beauty, f 

"Judge Rose at this time lived in the Hampton House 
place in a house like Henry Howell's, — if he built a 
house in 1830 it probably was that one and not Mr. Cor- 
with's. I remember when that was built some 10 or 12 
years later. Judge Rose owned lots 16, 17, and 18 of 
the Brushy Plain. I used to see him working them. He 
sold the Hampton House to Nathan Rogers, who built 
it up in the present beautiful style. He sold his 
mother's house to Augustus Gardiner who moved it on 
to the triangular commons, screwed it up, built a story 
underneath and made a hotel."* 

Of the men mentioned above. Judge Rose was born 
in Bridgehampton 1792, died Apr. 28, 1857. He was a 
graduate of Yale (1814), County Judge and Surrogate 
of Suffolk County July 1847 to Jan. 1852, and from Jan. 
1856 until he resigned a month before his death, and 
Presidential Elector in 1848. "In eloquence as an advo- 
cate Rose for a long time had no equal at the Suffolk 
County bar. He was a man gifted by natural mental 
endowment, of pre-eminent ability, with winning ways, 
sympathetic sensibilities, generous impulses, magnetic 
personality, and was admired and loved as a general 
favorite." iU. P. Hedges, News, Oct. 7, 1910). His 
son, Samuel Rose, died in 1850, at the age of 23, just 
after having received his degree of M-. D. in New York. 

t"Frederick Edwards (father of Mrs. Hulda Smith) his wife 
Esther and their son Oliver Perry lived in a little house where 
Bridger lives." ibid. 

* News, June 18, 1909. 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 169 

Dr. John Lyon Gardiner, M. D., May 6, 1823-May 29, 
1908, was a descendant of the original Lyon Gardiner of 
Gardiner's Island, and was a son of Dr. David Gardiner 
and grandson of Dr. Abel Huntington of East Hamp- 
ton. He located in Bridgehampton about 1846, where 
he practised his profession until prevented by the in- 
firmities of age. For long living in the house at the 
intersection of Lumber Lane and the Turnpike, he later 
built the house on the hill where his widow now resides. 

Nathan Rogers was born in Bridgehampton Aug. 1, 
1787, the son of John T. Rogers, and grandson of Rev. 
James Brown. He was early apprenticed to a ship 
builder at Hudson, N. Y., where, as he said, his business 
was "to keep the accounts, pay off the workmen, and 
serve out the grog." A severe accident to his knee ren- 
dered him unable to continue his work and he returned 
to Bridgehampton. He next took up the study of art, 
working under Mr. Wood of New York, and ultimately 
became a member of the National Academy and the 
leading miniature painter of his day. Having acquired 
a fortune, he again returned to Bridgehampton to live, 
built the Hampton House for his home and lived there 
until he died on Dec. 6, 1844. 

The hotel spoken of above in Mr. Hildreth's article 
was the "Atlantic House," and stood on the present St. 
Ann's Church property. An article in the News Jan. 
23, 1915, states, "One recalls that its early sign was the 
figurehead of an old ship, the bust of a healthy looking 
gentleman, supposed to be 'mine host' of the inn. The 
veterans among us recall the names of Mitchell, King, 
Gardiner, Hedges, Penny and Weeks or Wicks, the lat- 
ter a typical landlord of mammoth proportions weigh- 
ing 400 pounds. This gentleman had a chair of special 
make for his accommodation which served him at night 
time for a bed. 

"To nearly all adults now living here or in this vicin- 



170 MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 

ity, the name of John Hull* recalls vivid memories of 
the latest proprietor; his excellent qualities in his 
chosen profession, his fund of genial humor and inter- 
esting anecdote, his wide knowledge of mankind and his 
qualities as a kindly gentleman. If such were called 
upon for personal recollections, what a fund of remi- 
niscense would be accumulated of the social occasions 
when Mr. Hull catered to the taste of crowds of guests 
with his abundant suppers. His skill never failed to 
bring out the best quality in the oysters, pastry and cof- 
fee. On these occasions, the upper rooms were filled 
with dancers, who though they knew nothing of the 
'new dances' of today were skilled in the performance 
of the graceful old dances, the waltz, redowa, polka and 
schottische, and who, with the 'calling ofT' of the fam- 
ous Cuffee brothers and 'Prof. Van Houten' followed 
the mazes of the lancers and quadrille. 

"Some time during Mr. Hull's proprietorship, the 
house became a Temperance Hotel and suffered no loss 
in popularity by this change. The parish oyster supper 
was for several years an annual event, taking place in 
mid-winter and brought together whole families from 
the remote parts of the parish." 

The building was torn down in 1915 and the timber 
taken to Southampton. 

A hundred years and more ago there was food for 
mind as well as body to be had, and the first library was 
started in 1793, containing 173 volumes, and was lodged 
in the house of Mr. Levi Hildreth, whose only compen- 
sation for acting as librarian was permission to read the 
books. At that time the notorious Stephen Burroughs 

*John W. Hull was born at Durham, Conn., Feb. 1, 1824, died 
1902. He went to California in the Sabina in 1849, and also made 
several whaling voyages. He was then employed at the Nassau 
House, Sag Harbor, owned by his brother-in-law, Alfred Oakley. 
In 1865 he purchased the Atlantic House and ran it as a road house 
for over a quarter of a century. He was noted as a caterer and as 
the crack shot of the East End of Long Island and the house was 
famous as far as New York, for its game suppers. 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON ]71 

was teaching school here, and took part in the forma- 
tion of the hbrary, the selection of the books for which 
became a matter of bitter dispute between himself and 
his followers and Mr. Woolworth and his. This Bur- 
roughs, who subsequently printed his Memoirs in two 
volumes, was an unusual but by no means rare type. 
With a shallow but superficially brilliant mind, with a 
wide range of interests and a critical and enquiring at- 
titude toward life, of which in his exceedingly varied 
career he had seen much, and with what, from all ac- 
counts, must have been an extraordinary ability to win 
to himself the personal attachment of others, he was not 
long in obtaining a considerable following. He was, 
even by his own showing, a counterfeiter, an escaped 
convict and otherwise of somewhat loose morals. On 
the other hand he was, in intellectual curiosity and 
openness of mind somewhat in advance of his age and 
of the community in which he here found himself. I do 
not think that a single book advocated by him would be 
refused by the library today, save possibly on the score 
of antiquated dulness, but 120 years ago was a different 
age. When one calls to mind with what vindictive bit- 
terness, descending to personal and scurrilous abuse, 
Darwin's early works were received, not by an isolated 
little country village in 1793 but by a large part of what 
was pleased to consider itself an enlightened world 
some 80 years later, we cannot blame the leaders of the 
community here for their action, especially as Bur- 
roughs himself was so open to attack on the score of his 
past life, and ofifered such a poor example of the effect 
on character of the books and ideas he advocated. It 
was impossible that a man taking the Hne of conduct 
which he took, lacking in tact as well as morals, should 
remain in charge of the school, but he refused to leave. 
A principle was at stake, passions were deeply aroused, 
personalities involved, and a bitterness of feeling en- 
gendered that lasted nearly a hundred years. The gen- 



172 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 



eration of today is, perhaps, the first which knows but 
httle and certainly cares less, about Stephen Burroughs. 
Although early taken out of his hands, it seems to 
have been without question that the successful forma- 
tion of a library was due to his efforts. Many years ago 
Judge Hedges printed a list of the books in it from what 
he then said was the only copy in existence. I know of 
only two of these printed lists still remaining and as 
it is interesting in showing the reading matter of those 
days, I take the space to print it here in full. 



Raynals Indies, 8 vols. 
Eollins Ancient History, 8 vols. 
Hist, of Modern Europe, 5 vols. 
Moore's France, 2 vols. 

Italy, 2 vols. 

Eobertson's America, 3 vols. 

Scotland, 2 vols. 

Mirabeau's Court of Berlin, 

2 vols. 
Memoirs of Baron de Tott, 

2 vols. 
Fordyce's Addresses 

Sermons to Young Women 

Ramsey's Revolution, 2 vols. 

Linn's Characteristical Sermons 

Morse's Geography 

Thomson's Seasons 

Clerk's Vade Mecum 

Pope's Essay on Man 

Milton's Paradise Lost 

Conquest of Canaan 

Emma Corbett 

Beauties of the Magazine 

Gustavus Vasa 

Derham's Astro Theology 

Watts' Supplement 

Paine's Rights of Man, 

1st & 2d pts. 2 vols. 
Montague's Letters, 3 vols. 
Telemachus, 2 vols. 
Compleat Letter Writer 
Jennen's View 

Lectures 

Beauties of History, 2 vols. 
Knox on Education, 2 vols. 
Miss Rowe's Letters 
Bennett's Letters to a Lady 
Memoirs of Baron Trenck 
Vision of Columbus 
Young's Night Thoughts 



Newton on the Prophecies, 

3 vols. 

Edwards on the Will 

Death of Abel 

Doddridge's Rise and Progress 
of Religion 

Watts' Foundations of the 
Christian Church 

Manners in Portugal, 2 vols. 

Plutarch's Lives, 6 vols. 

Arabian Nights' Entertain- 
ment, 4 vols. 

Neal's Hist, of the Puritans, 

4 vols. 

Guthries Geography 

Brisson's Narrative 

Mosheim's Ecclesiastical His- 
tory 

Flavius Josephus, 6 vols. 

Perry's Pronouncing Diction- 
ary 

Clarke's Farriery 

Hervey's Meditations 

Burke on the French Revolu- 
tion 

Watts' Logick 

Edwards on Original Sin 

Lathrop on Baptism 

Life of Charles Wentworth, 
3 vols. 

Hervey's Letters, 2 vols. 

Cook's Travels, 2 vols. 

Edwards' Hist, of Redemption 

Goldsmith's Rome, 2 vols. 

Wait's Gospel History 

Hist, of Charles XII of Sweden 

Evans on the Christian Temper 

Dickinson's Letters 

Weft and Lyttleton 

Williams' Sermons, 4 vols. 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON ]73 

Humphrey's Works Peter Pindar, 2 vols. 

Kaim's Art of Thinking Adams' View of Religion 
Sparman's Voyage to Cape of Dodd on Death 

Good Hope, 2 vols. Franklin's Life 

Cowper's Task England, Abridged 

Carver's Travels Bruce's Travels up the Nile 

Blair's Sermons, 2 vols. Warville's Travels 

Lavater's Aphorisms on Man Cook's Voyages, Abridged 

Moore's Monitor Goldsmith's Animated Nature, 

Gay's Fables 4 vols. 

Paley's Philosophy French Revolution 

Byron's Shipwreck Mills on Cattle 

Clarissa Harlowe, 3 vols. Mason on Self Knowledge 

Fool of Quality, 5 vols. Watts' Miscellaneous Thoughts 

British Moralist, 2 vols. 

Although anticipating a later period, I may here sa}^ 
that the present Hampton Library was organized in 
1876 and opened in 1877, the books originally number- 
ing 3523 (now over 10,000). The lot on which the 
building stands was given by Mr. William Gardiner, at 
one time a resident here, who also gave $10,000 as did 
likewise his brother-in-law, Mr. Charles Rogers of New 
York for building and the purchase of books, after 
which what was left was to constitute an endowment. 
This was subsequently increased by a legacy from Mrs. 
Charles Rogers of $5,000. The first Board of Trustees 
consisted of Charles Rogers, Wm. Gardiner, H. P. 
Hedges, Jas. R. Huntting, John F. Youngs, (the first 
librarian and for long Secretary and Treasurer), and 
Wickham S. Havens, the original selection of books 
being largely left to Mr. Rogers, with William Cullen 
Bryant as his adviser. At first a yearly fee of $2.00 was 
charged but in June, 1905, the library became free to 
all, the reading room having also been added in 1904. It 
is now under the State Board of Regents, is subject to an 
annual visit of inspection, and receives $100 yearly from 
the state, which, with a very few hundred more from the 
limited endowment, is practically the entire income which 
it possesses for salaries, heat, light, maintenance of the 
building and grounds, purchase of new books, maga- 
zines, &c. Originally far superior to those in the neigh- 
l)oring villages, the latter have now all received munifi- 



174 MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 

cent gifts and are most suitably and attractively housed. 

In regard to the early schools, I quote extracts by Mr. 
Halsey and Mr. Hildreth. 

"In Sept, 1813, Southampton Town was laid out, or 
divided, into 15 school districts. This was soon after 
the State began to legislate on the school question. 
Previous to this there were schools and school houses in 
the different sections of the community [Bridgehamp- 
ton] ; one in the center, which in the division became 
district No. 9."* 

In this district there is a record in 1832 of a school 
with 109 scholars, the building being that "now owned 
by Theo. F. Haines as a shop" [1908]. This was used 
until 1842 when a new house, costing $471 was built, 
the site being on the land between the houses of Mr. E. 
J. Hildreth and Mr. S. O. Hedges. In 1891 it was 
bought and moved by Edwin P. Rogers to his land near 
Albert Marshall's house. In 1890, $2500 was voted and 
a new building erected, which was sold and moved to 
Wainscott in 1908, when the present school was built 
on the corner of School Lane and Church Lane, the lot 
costing $1500 and the building $10,200.t 

The earliest school in this district, however, "stood on 
what was at that time the common, or village green, or 
field for 'general training' probably near where J. S. 
Havens' barn or shop now stands [1908]. It was 
known as the 'two chimney school house.' This was a 
much larger building than the other school houses in 
this vicinity, and stood lengthwise east and west, with 
one door about the center on the south side and one on 
the west end. This building had neither wall nor ceil- 
ing. There was an immense fire-place in the east end, 
and it is thought the other chimney was for a stove 
pipe. No one is living that ever attended school in this 

*W. D. Halsey, News, Feb. 28, 1908. This article is quoted from 
again later. 
tSee News, Jan. 31, 1908. 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMFTON 175 

house. It is impossible to obtain any further descrip- 
tion of this old building. I can find no records and all 
my efforts along this line have failed. * * * Per- 
haps the most noted teacher in these early days in this 
immediate vicinity was Stephen Burroughs."! 

"The school-house in Hay Ground, afterward district 
No. 8, which stood near the residence of Charles Strong 
on what is now the highway, was a building about 
15x25 feet, both roof and uprights shingled, one door to 
the west, three windows on either side. In the east end 
was a huge fireplace for heating the building, large 
enough to hang three kettles in, and to take 4 foot cord- 
wood for fuel. The andirons were of such ponderous 
proportions that a 14 year old boy could hardly lift one 
of them. In size and weight the tongs were in keeping. 
There was a board floor, but neither walls nor ceiling. 
There is no doubt as to the ventilation of this room. 
The furniture consisted of slanting tables with benches 
on either side of the room for the younger pupils, and a 
double row of desks, back to back, placed lengthwise 
through the center for the older ones. The teacher's 
desk stood before the fireplace. When this house was 
no longer used for school purposes, it was moved a 
short distance west to the colored settlement and used 
as a dwelling. Timothy Halsey, Jr., who was born in 
1764 and lived until 1811, was, perhaps, the most noted 
teacher in this old school. He was generally known as 
'Master Tim.' I think my grandmother, Elizabeth 
Tuttle Rogers, with her brothers and sisters, were pu- 
pils of 'Master Tim;' in fact I know that some of them 
were. Jesse Halsey used to relate the experience of one 
of his schoolmates, who was given to commit to mem- 
ory, either as a lesson or as a punishment, the genera- 
tions of Shem as follows: Eber, Peleg, Reu. When 
called up before the august master to recite, the poor 

fFor a short time, after he lost his position in this school, he had 
a private school in the house of Elias Halsey, near Hacker's Pond. 



176 MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 

boy rendered it thus: Angle, Pangle, Row. The irate 
master, reaching for the boy's collar with one hand and 
for the ever present sapling with the other, exclaimed 
while vigorously plying the rod, 'Aggie! Paggle ! the 
Devil! go to your seat.' 

"There was a school in Sagaponack, afterward dis- 
trict No. 10 which stood on the east side of the Main 
Street just north of Henry Topping's north line on what 
was the property of Caleb Pierson. The deed for the 
lot, which was 4 by 5 poles, was given in 1776 and is 
still preserved in the possession of G. C. Topping. The 
deed contains the provision that when the land ceased 
to be used for school purposes it should revert to its 
former owner or estate. I think it fair to suppose that 
the house was built at this time, though we have no 
way of proving it. The house may have been built 
years before the deed for the lot was given. We do 
know, that 80 years ago [written in 1908] it was a very 
old building, and the Hon. H. P. Hedges and my old 
neighbor Thomas Edwards attended school there one 
summer when the former was a lad of 9 or 10. This 
house was one story and about 20x25 feet, covered with 
cedar shingles. The door was to the west, two windows 
on each side. Glass at that time was expensive, there 
being a tax upon it both in this country and in England. 
The room was probably heated from a fire place. I can- 
not describe the furniture of this old school room but the 
fact that it was finished with wall and ceiling was a sure 
indication that the people of this section were more pros- 
perous and better off in the world's goods than were 
their neighbors. 

"I do not know what became of this building, but we 
do know that when in the course of time a new house 
was needed, the building was all framed and the men of 
the district assembled to raise it on the site of the old 
one. Lemuel Haines, who then owned the adjoining 
land, with a hedge fence extending from the school lot 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMFTON 177 

to his barn, protested with such earnestness and vigor, 
claiming that in case of fire it would jeopardize his 
home, that the assembled company picked up the 
frame, carried it across the street and set it up on the 
common land. Here it stood until the present school 
house was built."* 

"District No. 13, or the Brickiln, was laid out with 
the rest in 1813, and for years maintained a school of 
considerable size with a school house on what in late 
years has been called 'Peter's Garden,' about a mile 
and a half north of my home at the junction of the 
Brickiln and Northside, or Pine Neck, roads. * * * 
This district either because of its unfortunate numl)er 
or for a better reason, has long since become 
defunct. * * * 

"I have heretofore mentioned and described in part 
four school districts, 8, 9, 10 and 13. District No. 18, as 
it now is, consists of what was formerly portions of 
these four districts. 

"Probably as early as 1750 a small house was owned, 
and, I presume built, by Sylvanus Sandford on the 
small orchard lot now owned by Henry H. Sandford 
and opposite to his home on Butter Lane.f At Syl- 
vanus Sandford's death it went to his son Maltby 
Sandford. I do not know how soon, but after a time it 
became vacant and was then used as a school house. 
^^'e know it was used as such in 1810, for Edward Sand- 
ford was one of the pupils, and I presume earlier than 
this my grandfather, Gabriel Halsey, attended. The 
children from the Loper, Mitchell, WoodrufT, and Cor- 
with families attended school here. This house was 
finally sold to Elias Sandford and moved across the 
street. I think it must have been used as a school house 
until 1824. 

*Wm. D. Halsey, News, Feb. 28, 1908. 

t"The grandmother of my friend George Corey was born in this 
house." W. D. H. ibid. 



178 MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 

"The first school meeting held in this district of 
which we have any record was at the house of Silas 
Woodruff on April 29, 1824, and we have the records of 
this and every meeting held since.* 'The site of the 
school [was] voted to be at the head of the lane called 
Mitchell's lane. Meeting adjourned until the 27th of 
May at 8 p. m.' At this meeting the former vote was 
'reconsidered and the site changed to the north-east 
corner of Silas Corwith's orchard lot.' Here the house 
was built, the district buying the building material, of 
which we still have the original list, and Jeremiah 
Haines was employed as builder. His labor bill was 
$58, the total cost of the building amounting to 
$1 70.98 >4. The first boy that ever attended school in 
this house was Richard Cook. His father though a res- 
ident of Hay Ground sent him to this new house be- 
cause the old one in Hay Ground (the one I previously 
described) 'was so old, cold, and dilapidated.' " 

I will here interrupt Mr. Halsey's narrative to say 

that Richard Cook went to school, for a while at any 

rate, (probably prior to this) in the old Hay Ground 

school house, as is shown by a letter dated March 5, 

1902, from which I quote the interesting evidence of the 

noted Long Island longevity contained in it. "I am this 

day 86 years old. My mind turns back to my childhood 

days when I went to school 80 years ago in the Hay 

Ground district. Nine or ten of the scholars that went 

to school there are now living, as follows : Albert 

Squires 92 years. Miss Clarissa J. Haines 90, J. Rogers 

Cook 89, Mrs. Phebe H. Halsey 87, Richard Cook 86, 

Mrs. Henry M. Rose 84, Capt. James A Rogers 84, all 

of Bridgehampton, Mrs. Mary M. Taft of Sag Harbor, 

90 and Mrs. Delia Vanderlip of San Antonio. Texas, 

87." At that same time there were also living in this 

little village, Mrs. Tabitha Youngs 92, Stephen Wood 

*" Jesse Woodruff was chosen moderator; Jason Loper clerk; 
Jared Loper collector; Gabriel Halsey, John Corwith, Jr., and Ja- 
son Loper Trustees." ibid. 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BKIDGEHAMPTON 179 

88, Dan'l. S. Halsey 86, Judge Henry P. Hedges 84, and 
Michael Shaughnessy 82. 

Continuing the story of No. 18, Mr. Halsey says: 
"In the record I notice that on the 25th Sept., 1825. it 
was 'voted that the committee be authorized to expel 
all refractory scholars who, after suitable admonition, 
refuse to submit to the rules of the school.' I think it 
must have been about this time that John Cooper was 
hired as school master, when, judging from all accounts, 
I presume the refractory ones submitted for he was 
not an advocate of moral suasion. 

"This house was moved a few years later to the hill 
near the present home of Melvin Edwards but before 
his house was built. The site to which it was moved 
was common or town land. I am sure Mrs. Abigail 
Sweezy is the only surviving teacher who taught in that 
house on that site. In 1853 it was moved again to the 
corner of Silas Corwith's lot on Butter Lane, where it 
was enlarged to meet the requirements of the growing 
district. Here it stood for 50 years or until the new 
house was built in 1903."* 

Of the old school house at Sagg, Mr. C. H. Hildreth 
wrote as follows in the News of Aug. 19, 1910. "The 
death of our old friend Lafayette Seabury brought to 
mind the first day I attended school at the old Sagg 
school house over 76 years ago [1910]. The house was 
comparatively new then, the paint bright and shining, 
and did not show the work of jack-knives as it did 
years later. The desks were built against the side of 
the house on four sides of the room except at the door 
way out into the entry. The seats were a continuous 
board in front of the desks over which the scholars had 
to climb to get to the desks. 

"TJiere were two long benches for small children, one 

made of pine for the girls and the other an oak slab with 

pegs driven into auger holes for legs. It was rough on 

*W, D. Halsey in News, Mar, 6, 1908. ~~ 



ISO MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 

the under side but the top side was nearly as smooth as 
glass and about as hard. On this bench we little boys 
had to sit with folded hands and allowed to breath if 
we did it quietly. If we had drawn a sigh like Eneas 
from the bottom of our breasts, we might have been 
called up and spanked. There was a large Franklin 
stove in the middle of the room in which they burned 
quantities of wood which made it very hot near the 
fire, but as the building was not under-pinned the north 
west wind blowing under the floor made it rather cold 
for the children's feet. 

"I was young and very diffident and took my seat on 
the oak bench near the door and remember being cold. 
The older boys sat on the end of the bench near the 
stove and as they got warmed up they would come to 
the cold end and we little fellows were crowded down 
toward the stove and baked. Over this room ruled 
Buckley. * * * 

"Eventually I was called up to read and be taught the 
mysteries of the a b c. The life and energy had all been 
baked out of me by the hot stove and I suppose I was 
not very responsive to the teaching. He said, 'You are 
asleep,' and took me by the back of the jacket and ran 
me around the old Franklin stove to wake me up, and 
then tried again, with what success I do not remember 
or whether I learned anything that winter or not." 

Besides the district schools there have been various 
private ones. Early in the last century, about 1830, 
there was one kept by Miss Sophronia Topping, while 
about the same time there was another kept by Miss 
Emma Rose, a sister of Col. Edwin Rose. Still another 
of the same period was kept by Andrew Fordham. This 
was in a house on the main country road. The building 
was later moved to Mr. Charles Topping's place on Me- 
cox Road and used as a residence, being torn down only 
last year. The Misses Halsey. a little later kept school 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 181 

in what is now the summer residence of Mrs. Peck 
(next to Mrs. Kahle's). 

But the most noted school in Bridgehampton was the 
"old Academy" which was founded in 1859 and stood 
on the present site of Mr. Floyd Halsey's house on 
Ocean Road. An article in the News, 1908, states that 
"in the year 1859 a number of men gathered together in 
the school house at Bull's Head and formed a company 
to erect a school building to be known as the 'Bridge- 
hampton Literary Institute.' "* Five trustees were 
elected, viz.: Edwin Rose, Silas W. Corwith, Wm. D. 
Halsey, Alanson Topping, and Jas. L. Haines, the lat- 
ter being chosen clerk. 

"On the 16th of May, 1859, the trustees were empow- 
erd to erect a building for the school. In the fall of that 
year the school opened with Albert White of South- 
ampton as principal. Samuel Herrick of Southampton 
succeeded Mr. White. The following year Mr. White 
again taught. Andrew E. Warner of Chester, Ct., 
taught here five years from 1862 to 1867. Rev. Geo. R. 
Howell of Southampton succeeded him, then came Rev. 
Mr. Lawrence for one year and following him Edwin 
Hedges taught three years. 

"In the year 1872 Prof. L. W. Hallockjtook charge 
of the school and was principal from that time until the 
school closed in June, 1907. In Aug., 1908, the school 
building was sold at public auction [to Prof. Hallock for 
$600] ending its career of usefulness after nearly 50 
years of great success and service in the world of edu- 
cation." 

*This was a stock company which issued 50 shares at $25 each. 
It was found necessary to contribute an additional sum, however, 
before the building was finished. It was built by Sheffield Seabury, 
the rear addition being put on in 1875. In 1910 it was divided and 
one portion is now a residence near the northwest corner of the 
main country road and the road from Sagg to the Harbor, while 
the other part stands on the north side of Sagg Road some distance 
east of the house of A. E. Worthington. 

t Lewis W. Hallock came here from a professorship in the Fort 
Edward Collegiate Institute. 



182 MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMFTON 

Of the building itself another article states, f "the 
lower floor was designed for the school room and the 
upper story was used as a hall. Here were gatherings 
for the public welfare, temperance organizations met 
here, school exhibitions were given and fairs and fes- 
tivals for the raising of funds for various purposes. In 
the early years of the war it was headquarters for the 
political meetings, 'wide-awake' parades, torchlight 
processions while party spirit ran high. Here the ladies 
met to make a United States flag to be carried in the 
parades and here they formed plans for the scraping of 
lint and rolling of bandages for the use of the army 
surgeons, and made quilts and comfort bags for the 
soldiers. The fair in aid of the Sanitary Commission 
was held here continuing the better part of a week. 
While extensive repairs were in progress on the Pres- 
byterian Church, divine service was held here for many 
weeks. 

"Of all the principals who taught here perhaps but 
one survives [1910], Andrew E. Warner who is spend- 
ing his declining years at his homestead in Chester, Ct., 
still active in the best interests of his town, educational 
and social. Some of them have been men of mark in 
other callings. Rev. Geo. R. Howell was known as a 
local historian and as State Librarian at Albany for 
many years. Edwin Hedges, son of Judge Hedges, and 
like him a graduate of Yale, also followed him in the 
profession of the law and had a successful and growing 
practice in this village until his death in 1881. Samuel 
Herrick was known as the Rev. Dr. Herrick, pastor of a 
large church in or near Boston. Rev. Mr. Lawrence 
was a preacher of merit in the Methodist Episcopal 
Church. 

"Under Prof. Hallock, the last principal, a charter 
from the Board of Regents was obtained in 1875 [in- 
corporated Nov. 22), 1875] and the name was changed 

fNews, April 29, 1910. 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMFTON 



183 



to the 'Bridgehampton Literary and Commercial Insti- 
tute.' Under his tuition many students were prepared 
for college and maintained honorable rank in various 
educational institutions. Among its alumni are num- 
bered college professors, doctors of divinity and of med- 
icine, lawyers, business men eminent in many call- 
ings."* 

*In a copy of the "Catalogue and Circular" curiously dated for 
"1889, 1890 and 189—," issued in 1889, I find, among other, the 
following information. Board of Trustees, Orlando Hand, James 
M. Halsey (V-Pres.), Cassander W. Hedges, Jeremiah Ludlow 
(Pres.), Samuel Hildreth, Albert G. Jennings, Edward H. Dickin- 
son, Elisha 0. Hedges, Lewis W. Hallock (Treas.), E. A. Hildreth 
(Sec), W. Augustus Corwith, Jas. L. Sandford. The Faculty con- 
sisted of Lewis W. Hallock, A. B. "Principal and Professor of 
Mathematics, Sciences and the Ancient and Modern Languages;" 
Miss Lucy C. Howell "Higher English, Commercial Instruction, 
Penmanship and Drawing;" Miss Lottie M. Peterson, "Piano and 
Organ;" Mr. Thomas F. Marshall, "Violin and Banjo;" and Harry 
G. Stevens, "Assistant in Common English." 

The "names of students enrolled since the last catalogue" give 
as residences, beside Bridgehampton, the following places: Orange, 
Cal., Patchogue, Vineland, N. J., Sag Harbor, Riverhead, Water 
Mill, Manorville, Southampton, Amagansett, Shelter Island, East- 
port, Middle Island, Sagg, Baiting Hollow, St. Paul, Minn., West 
Hampton, East Hampton, Peconic, Stony Brook, Moriches, Amity- 
ville, Good Ground, New York City, Springs, "New Jersey," Brook- 
haven, Sayville, "Mexico," Yaphank, Port Jefferson, and Brooklyn. 
Graduates were then studying at 12 different colleges. In con- 
nection with the school there was a society, known as "the Calli- 
logian Society" to "promote social and intellectual developement." 
All non-resident students were required to "board with the 
Principal or with relatives who will take the responsibility of see- 
ing that they keep, and not evade, the Rules of the Institution for 
boarders." Board, including furnished room and washing was $4.00 
per week or $3.00 from Monday to Friday. The following were the 
other charges. 

"Tuition per term of 12 wks. — Common English . . $6.50 

To this as a basis is added for each branch of Higher Mathe- 
matics, Natural, Political, Mental or Moral Science or 
English Literature, except Chemistry and Surveying . 1.50 
Ancient and Modern Languages .... 3.00 

Book-keeping ........ 5.00 

Music, piano or organ ...... 10.00 

Violin or Banjo, one lesson per week .... 6.00 

Drawing ......... 3.00 

Common penmanship . ... . . . . .75 

Chemistry 3.00 

Surveying ......... 3.00 

Incidentals about ....... 2.00 



CHAPTER IX 



THE CHURCHES 

As we have seen in Chapter III, a church in the new 
settlement was provided for coincident with the plan 
for settlement itself. Much has been written as to the 
denomination of the early Long Island churches and 
their greater or lesser affinity to the Presbyterian or 
Congregational form of church government. The scope 
of this book does not permit of an extended discussion 
of this point. The Rev. Dr. Epher Whitaker, writing 
in 1912, stated that "all these early churches were 
neither Presbyterian nor Congregational in the gen- 
eral meaning of those words in their present use. They 
were Town Churches, i. e. Civil Government Churches. 
The Civil Government gave to the Pastors a settlement. 
This settlement was to enable him to give his 
time, thought and work to the moral and religious edu- 
cation and culture of the people. The Town collected 
a tax from the citizens and paid the Pastor his salary. 
The bond of union of these Churches was the Civil Gov- 
ernment of the Colony over all the Towns." * 

The engaging of a minister was usually ratified in 
some such contract as that later made with the Rev. Mr. 
Woolworth by the people of Bridgehampton, and if the 
tax for the minister's salary was not paid, the delin- 

* See "The Refugees.' etc.," for a discussion. 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 



185 



quent's property could be sold by the authorities. Judge 
Hedges thought that the church was Congregational 
until 1747. ill spite of the proviso in the grant of the 20 
acres of parsonage land in 1712 to "a Presbiterian Min- 
ister and noe other." Minister Brown was ordained by 
the Presbytery, but not Minister Woolworth, who was 
ordained by a Council. The Presbytery of Long Island 
had been one of four into which was divided the orig- 
i»ial Presbytery of Philadelphia in 1716, when the 
Synod of Philadelphia was formed. In 1738 the Long 
Island Presbytery was united with that of East Jersey 
to form the Presbytery of New York, and in 1747 was 
formed the Suffolk Presbytery which became the Pres- 
bytery of Long Island in 1789. The union was voted 
here in 1795, and has since continued. There were no 
Elders, however, until 1801, and none were ordained 
until those chosen in 181 1.* It may be noted that on 
their tombstones, the first minister is called "Pastor of 
the Church of Christ" (died 1756) ; the second, "Pastor 
of the Church of Christ" (died 1788); the third, "Pas- 
tor of this Congregation" (died 1821); the fourth, 
"fourth pastor of the Presbyterian Church," etc. (died 
1823). 

Before the formation of a separate church in Bridge- 



* The first Session 


Records begin in 1803. At 


first the 


only 


officers were Deacons, 


and Judge Hedges gives the list as follows: 


Peregrine Stanborough elected 


7 


died 


1701 


Josiah Topping 


elected before 


1742 


removed 


1747 


Elnathan White 


elected 


1 


died 


1771 


James Haines 


elected before 


1738 


died 


1779 


David Hedges 


elected 


1767 


died 


1817 


Thomas Topping 


elected 


1 


removed 


1 


Maltby Gelston 


elected 


1 


died 


1785 


Ebenezer White 


elected 


1787 


died 


1802 


Benj. Sandford 


elected 


1802 


died 


1824 


Silas White 


elected 


1818 


died 


1827 


Stephen Rose 


elected 


1818 


died 


1866 


James Nickerson 


elected 


1827 


removed 


1833 


Jeremiah Haines 


elected 


1833 


died 


1871 



186 MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 

hampton, tradition relates, as has already been noted, 
that the people of this part of the Town used to go to 
Southampton on the Sabbath, traveling along the beach 
unless the seapoose was running, when they would go 
along Mecox Road and the Wading Place. The fur- 
ther tradition that the minister sometimes came over 
here and preached in the afternoon, as later the minister 
m East Hampton did in Sag Harbor is confirmed by the 
fact that until about forty years ago, the Sacrament was 
administered in the morning in South and East Hamp- 
ton, but in Bridgehampton and Sag Harbor invariably 
m the afternoon. 

Authorities have set various dates both for the crea- 
tion of the separate Parish of Bridgehampton and the 
erection of the first church building here. It has been 
stated that tradition places the latter about 1670, which 
is about the time Prime states the Parish to have been 
organized separately, following Thompson who stated 
(in 1843 * that such was provided for in an Act of As- 
sembly dated May 16, 1669. When the Rev. Mr. Prime 
was writing his history and came here, he visited Dea- 
con Rose, and it is probably from him that he got the 
date of 1670 for the erection of the first church, since a 
paper found not long ago in the Deacon's handwriting 
states that tradition fixes the date as 1670, and he be- 
lieves it could not have been later than 1671. This un- 
doubtedly was the tradition and may have been the fact, 
but whatever may be the truth as to the building of the 
first edifice for worship, no Act of May 16, 1669, incor- 
porating the Parish has ever rewarded search nor any 
other such Act, except one dated May 16, 1699, which 
will presently be quoted, and the text of which is un- 
doubtedly paraphrased by Thompson. Through a 
combination of errors the date of this Act has also 
Ijeen given as 1695 and 1698. This Act, with its correcc 
date, certainly explains the date in Thompson which 
lias been so puzzling. The fact that no other Act can 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 187 

be found, that this Act in wording is so similar to 
Thompson's paraphrase, and that all other evidence 
points to the extreme improbability of there ever hav- 
ing been any other Act, clearly indicate that Thompson 
was writing of this one and that the correct date. May 
16, 1699, by a slip in copying or printing, became May 
16, 1669, an extremely easy error to make.* Prime, 
following Thompson's wrong date, and combining it 
with Deacon Rose's tradition as to the erection of the 
first building, again helped to perpetuate the error as to 
the creation of the Parish. 

At the Town Meeting of July 22, 1686, 12 acres 01 
hind was granted to Isaack Wilman upon consideration 
that he shall "make over to the town 4 pole wide of his 
Land butting to Sagaponack pond, all the whole Length 
thereof between his Land and the Land of Joseph 
More, for a highway, and also so much Land more as 
Vv'ill contain a meeting house Lying to the said highway 
to be about 4 pole square. About 14 pole from ye 
pond," etc., to which he agreed. "f 

Again, a month later, Aug. 24, 1686, it was voted that 
"ye Inhabitants of mecox and sagaponack that is east- 
ward of the wading place shall be Released from paying 
their proportion of the yearly maintenance of Mr. Whit- 
ing from October next upon condition that if they shall 
be without a minister there at Sagaponack for the space 
of a year then they are to pay again to Mr. Whiting 
as formerly, to Mr. Whiting or the minister then ofili- 

* Mr. Peter Nelson, Archivist, New York State Library, Albany, 
in writing me, after reciting that no such Act was passed in May, 
or in the Spring sessions of the Assembly in 1695 or 1698, con- 
tinues, "the first session of the Seventh Assembly began in March, 
1699. At this last mentioned session there was passed 16 May 
1699 what is numbered Chapter 83 in the old edition of the laws as 
well as the current publication to which reference has been made 
[The Colonial Laws of New York]. This is entitled 'A Bill to 
Enable ye Respective Townes within this province to build & re- 
pair their meeting houses & other publick buildings,' " and then 
quotes the second clause of the Bill as given in my text, 

tT. R..V0I. n, p. 110. 



188 MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 

elating in the town." f To this was added a vote that 
"there shall bee by november next Layd out forty 
acres of Land somewhere about Sagaponack or mecox 
ai the Discretion of the Layers out to Lye for the 
townes use to Dispose of hereafter as they shall see 
cause," % which was probably to be parsonage land. 
At this meeting was also confirmed the agreement with 
Ezekiel Sandford to build the bridge. All of this would 
seem to indicate plans for establishing a separate 
church, but as a matter of fact, we find the people here 
still paying their "rates" for Mr. Whiting's salary down 
to and including 1694. During that time he probably 
ministered to the congregation here, who were un- 
doubtedly looking for a suitable minister of their own 
and preparing for him, for on June 23, 1691, it was 
voted that there should be laid out "Sixty Acres of Land 
in some Convenient place where it Can be had, to be 
I,ayd out to the neighbors of sagaponack and meacox, 
which is given and granted to them upon this account 
to be Improved for a parsonage there for ever," etc. * 
This land was not laid out until April 24, 1694, when 
it was laid out at Sagg "bounded with ye Land of Henry 
Fierson and Theophilus Howell on the west ward Sid 
v.ith a highway on the South, and on the Eastt and 
North with the Comon Land."§ This was, without 
doubt, in anticipation of the coming of Mr. White, who 
was ordained here Oct. 9, 1695, but who probably was 
here a little earlier, possibly by 1694, for on April 17, 
1695, there is recorded a deed from Jonas Wood and 
wife Lydia of Elizabethtown in East Jersey to him, 
conveying 10 acres of land at Sagaponack "bounded 
west by street, north by Henry Pierson, east and south 
by highways." Mr. White paid £50 for this lot, and the 

t T. R., Vol. II, p. 112 (Mr. Whiting was the Minister in South- 
ampton). 
% Ibid. 

* T. R., Vol. II,p. 126. 
^ T. R., Vol. II, p. 129. 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BKIDGEHAMPTON 189 

house which was built on it and in which he Hved, was 
not torn down until about 1856. 

The site of the first church building is approximately 
known and is now marked by the stone monument a 
little west of Sagg Bridge on the north side of Bridge 
Lane. It is stated to have been about 25 x 35 feet in 
size, to have contained a fireplace, and to have had a 
thatched roof, but there is no authentic description. As 
to the date of its erection, the Records, to my mind 
indicate about 1686, but the "high authority of Deacon 
Pose, writing from the traditions as he received and 
sifted them, some seventy years ago, indicates the date 
to be 1670 or 1671. 

About three and a half years after the settlement of 
Minister White, in a session of the New York Colonial 
Assembly, of which Col. Henry Pierson was at that time 
a member, was passed May 16, 1699, the Act previ- 
ously referred to and entitled "A Bill to Enable ye Re- 
spective Townes within this province to build and re- 
pair their meeting houses & other publick buildings.'"' 

This Act recites that, Whereas, the several and re- 
spective Towns within this Province are at a great loss 
for want of public buildings for the worship and service 
of God, as well as for other public services, be it enacted 
that the trustees of each respective Town within this 
IVovince shall be empowered to make a yearly rate 
either for the erecting of a public edifice or church for 
the public worship and service of God where the same is 
wanting, or for any other public buildings, town houses 
01 goals, which rate shall be laid upon all and every 
the Freeholders, Inhabitants and Sojourners in eacli 
respective Town. 

It then provides in a separate clause that the "pre- 
cinct of Bridge Hampton, comonly called Sagaboneck 
and Mecoxe within ye Towne of Southampton, shall 
forever hereafter be Esteemed a Distinct Parish from 
ye said Towne of Southampton, and have and Injoy 



190 MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 

all ye privileges & Benefits of a distinct parish, for ye 
building and Erecting of a publick Edifice with its ap- 
purtenances, for ye public Service of God, according 
to ye true Intent & meaning of this Act. And they are 
hereby Impowered and Authorized to Lay rates upon 
their respective ffreeholders, Inhabitants and Sojourn- 
ers within ye Said precincts of Bridgehampton, in as 
full & ample manner as if ye said precinct were a Sep- 
arate & Distinct Town within this province, any thing 
Contained in ye Grant of Southampton to ye Contrary 
hereof in any wayes notwithstanding." 

That date. May i6, 1699, is, to my mind, beyond 
question, the earliest date of the incorporation of 
Bridgehampton as a Parish, although it had its own 
minister about 4 years earlier, and may have had a 
church building many years before that. 

Just what the status of the Parish was in some re- 
spects, however, is not altogether clear. When Min- 
ister VVoolworth came in 1787 a written agreement was 
entered into between him and the "Inhabitants of the 
Parish of Bridgehampton" which was signed by 123 of 
the inhabitants. This is given below in full. The pres- 
ent church as a Society was not incorporated until 1828, 
as we know from a petition to the Court of Chancery 
for the State of New York dated Feb. 11, 1847, i" which 
the Church sets forth, among other things that "the said 
Society was Incorporated the 15th day of October, 
1828, by the name of 'the Presbyterian Society of the 
Parish of Bridgehampton.' " * 

To sum up all the evidence, I think that we may 
affirm the main dates in the history of the Church to 
have been as follows: Somewhere between 1670 and 
1686, an edifice was built in which to conduct the serv- 
ices which may likely have been held even earlier in 

* From a mss. in possession of Mr. A. M. Cook, which was at- 
tested by the late Mr. George R. Howell as being a true and perfect 
copy. 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 191 

private houses. This date cannot be determined more 
definitely, but tradition points strongly to the earlier 
one named. On July 22, 1686, we find the Wilman 
Grant, in which occur the words "and also so much land 
more as will contain a meeting house," and on August 
24th of the same year the inhabitants of Bridgehampton 
are released from any obligation as to Mr. Whiting's 
salary "from October next'' provided that they shall 
not continue without a minister for more than a year. 
In other words they were tlTen given the opportunity 
of becoming a separate parish, if they could secure a 
minister. This they were unable to do, for there is no 
minister there until 1695 and they continue to pay Mr. 
Whiting down to 1694. The first definite parsonage 
land was granted June 23, 1691, but even then not laid 
out until April 24, 1694. The first clergyman was or- 
dained Oct. 9, 1695 ; the Act of Incorporation as a Parish 
secured May 16, 1699, and, finally, the church incor- 
porated in its present form Oct. 15, 1828. 

We will now go on to consider the history somewhat 
more in detail. 

The "W^oolworth Agreement," mentioned above and 
which is more or less typical of such agreements, read 
as follows: "These presents Witnesseth an Agree- 
ment made and concluded on Betweene Mr. Aaron 
Woolworth, Minister of the Gospel of the One Part, 
And the Subscribers Hereunto, Inhabitants of the 
Parish of Bridge Hampton of the other Part as follows 
(Viz.): That the said Mr. Aaron Woolworth Doth 
hereby Covenant and promise to, and Agree with them 
the Inhabitants Aforesaid to Settle with them and carry 
on the Work of the Ministry Amongst them and per- 
form in all Points matters and things relating thereunto 
faithfully and Conscienciously According to his Ability 
from time to time and at all times during life or so long 
as he shall be able; And that the Subscribers hereunto 
of the Parish aforesaid do hereby Promise and Bind 



192 MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMFTON 

themselves and Engage firmly by these Presents unto 
him the said Mr. Aaron Woolworth that upon his per- 
forming the Work of a Gospel Minister amongst them 
as above, That we the Inhabitants of the Parish afore- 
said do agree to give unto him, the said Mr. Woolworth, 
the sum of One Hundred Pounds, New York Currency, 
also, the House and Three acres of Land adjoining, 
which this Parish purchased of Mr. James Brown as 
pr. Deed Specified * as A Settlement, And further we 
the Inhabitants of the Parish aforesaid do promise to 
pay Each one and every one yearly and every year dur- 
mg the time that the said Mr. Woolworth shall carry on 
the said Work amongst them as aforesaid their Just and 
full proportions of One Hundred and Ten Pounds, New 
York Currency, also the use and Improvement of a cer- 
tain piece of Land adjoining House and Land above 
said, also the Use and Improvement of a certain piece 
of Land called and known by the name of the Western 
Parsonage, also a sufficient Quantity of Fire Wood for 
his own Consumption not Exceeding Fifty Loads annu- 
ally, as a Salary Which shall be Assessed by Men 
chosen of the Parish from time to time for that End, 
And for the Confirmation of the above Agreement and 
every Article contained therein, Each Party have 
mutually set their Hands hereunto. Dated the 2nd dav 
of July & in the Year of Our Lord 1787. 

AARON WOOLWORTH. 

Ebenezer White Stephen Pierson 

John Hulbert Nathan Norris 

Daniel Howell Mathew Pierson 

Timothy Halsey Ezekiel Howell 

Elihu Halsey David Topping; 

Samuel Howell Silvanus Pierson 

David Pierson Job Sandford 

David Hains Stephen Rose 

John Gelston Stephen Halsey 

David Hedges Ethan Topping 

Timothy Pierson Daniel Stratten 

David Woodruff Daniel Tallmadge 

* See Chapter on Old Houses, 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 



193 



Simeon Halsey 
Zephaniah Toppinsr 
Silas Topping 
Stephen Tallmadge 
Benjamin Woodruff 
John Rogers 
Stephen Ludlam 
Josiah Cooper 
Stephen Mitchell 
Joshua Hildreth 
Nathan Post 
Josiah Sandford 
Elias Sandford 
William Rogers 
Henry Topping 
Silas Hand 
John Pierson 
Lemuel Hains 
Abraham Rose 
Zebulon Pierson 
Philip Howell 
Edward Topping 
David Sayre 
Silas White 
Mathew Pierson, Jr. 
Theophilus Pierson 
Abraham Sandford 
Silvanus Topping, Jr. 
Charles Topping 
Joseph Topping 
Samuel Pierson 
Ethan Halsey 
David Hildreth 
Thomas Gelston 
Henry Pierson 
Jedediah Pierson 
Isaac Jessup 
Samuel A. Rose 
Abraham Pierson 
Mathew Halsey, Jr. 
Jonathan Rogers 
Abraham Rose 
John T. Rogers 
Theophilus Cook 
Jesse Woodruff 

his 
Stephen X Stambro 

mark 
Silas Woodruff 
Elias Woodruff 

Memorandum — It is 
ers, that by the within 
to Support Mr. Aaron 



Stephen Hains 
Elias Halsey 
Daniel Halsey 
Job Pierson 
Caleb Pierson 
Lewis Sandford 
Benjamin Sandford 
Jeremiah Sandford 
Lodowick Post 
Charles Pierson 
Peter Hildreth, Jr. 
James Sayre 
John White 
Silas Cooper 
John Corwithe 
Abraham Topping 
Silvanus Halsey 
Moses Halsey, Jr. 
James Terry 
Stephen Topping 
Elihu Howell 
Lemuel Pierson, Jr. 
Williams Pierson 
Jonathan Hedges 
Elias Hedges 
David Topping, Jr. 
Mathew Topping 
Jonathan Hedges, Jr. 
John Dains 
Henry Corwith 
Hugh Gelston, Jr. 
Paul Dains 
William Pierson 
Daniel Hedges 
Lewis Stanbrough 
Stephen Howell 
Price Howell 
Josiah Hand 
Asa Hillyer 
David Hand 
Benjamin Sayre, Jr. 
Gideon Hand 
John Harris, Jr. 
Silvanus Topping, Senr. 
Lemuel Pierson 
Abraham Howell 
Walter Howell 
Daniel Woodruff 
David Howell 
Jeremiah Parker 
Henry Moore. 

understood by us, the Subscrib- 

Covenant this Parish are holdcn 

Woolworth agreable thereto so 



194 MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 

long- as he continues in a Pastoral relation to them 

which relation is only dissolved by Death or a regular 

Dismission by a Council mutually chosen by the Church 

and Congregation and Mr. Aaron Woolworth for that 

purpose. 

John Hulburt David Hedges 

Daniel Halsey Samuel Howell 

Timothy Halsey David Pierson 

Ebenezer White William Rogers 

Timothy Pierson David Hains 

Elias Halsey John Gelston 

Committee 

The 20 acre parsonage lot laid out "for a Presbi- 
terian minister" in 1712 has already been alluded to. 
This is what was later known as the "Western Parson- 
age," the Woolworth house being the "Swamp Par- 
sonage." * The Western Parsonage land lay as fol- 
lows : "Beginning at the southeast corner of the lot 
now owned by Mrs. Kahle, it ran 50 rods west to the 
southeast corner of the present school house grounds, 
thence north 60 rods, thence east 50 rods, thence south 
70 rods to the starting point. The tract was nearly 
square and embraced 20 acres. The north line of the 
lot was the line on the south side of [the late] Judge 
Hedges' home lot, and ran straight for 50 rods from 
Atlantic Avenue, then 12 rods wide to the present path 
to the school house. All the land north of this line and 
bounded by the highway on the north was then the tri- 
angular commons. In the center nearly of the north 
side, the burial place now existing was doubtless set 
apart at a date unknown but very early. The highway, 
1 1 rods wide at that time, extended some 2 rods or more 
south into the present cemetery. The common land 
south and west of the burial ground was afterwards 
disposed of by the town authorities, and a part of it 
was bought ultimately by the Presbyterian congrega- 
tion. . . ." (News, Sept. 30, 1910.) On this 20-acre 
lot stood a brick parsonage, a little back from Ocean 

* See Chapter on Old Houses. 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 195 

Road on part of Mrs. Kahle's present place, and the 
Rev. Mr. Francis lived there. When some 30 years ago 
Mr. W. H. H. Rogers bought the place, this house was 
torn down and the bricks used for the foundation of the 
present house. According to the late Mr. C. H. Hil- 
dreth, Mr. Francis built the parsonage, which was 
double, two story, "with a brick front to the south." 

In the first church, built on Bridge Lane, the con- 
gregation continued to worship until 1737, by which 
time the little building had probably been outgrown, 
and the center of population also somewhat shifted in 
the direction of the location of the Parsonage Land de- 
scribed above. Accordingly, we read in the Town Rec- 
ords, under date of April 5th, 1737, that it was "Voted 
by ye town yt the people of Bridge Hampton shall have 
liberty to build a Meeting House upon ye Knoule 
en ye South side of Henry Wick's land, between Abram 
Howell's house and Joshua Hildreth, and it was a 
cleare vote." * 

This Meeting House was built about 30 or 40 rods 
east of Ocean Road on the north side of Sagg Road, 
about one half on the street and the rest in the enclosed 
land. It was a heavily timbered building, about 38 x 54, 
unwalled but ceiled with boards on the uprights and 
above. There was no vestibule, the three doors open- 
ing directly into the church room, one on the east, one 
on the west, and the front one on the street opening 
directly opposite the pulpit. I continue the descrip- 
tion in the words of Judge Hedges, as I imagine there 
are few descriptions of the churches of that period so 
clear and minute. 

"The posts projected within the ceiling some inches 
and were uncased but planed smooth. Large curved 

* T. R.. Vol. III. p. 63. Mr. W. S. Pelletreau says Abram 
Howell's house stood on the north side of the road a little east of 
the Meeting House and Joshua Hildreth's on the corner lot oppo- 
site Mr. Haines. He gives the distance of the Meeting House from 
Ocean Road as 40 rods. Judges Hedges as 30. 



196 MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 

braces from the posts to the girts above, held the build- 
ing firmly together, and these also were smoothly 
planed. Six turned pillars resting on stones beneath 
the floor supported the galleries. Above, the ceiling 
was painted white with a blue cornice around the out- 
side underneath and above the galleries. The uprights 
were painted yellow, except that the window casings 
were white and the inner doors black. 

"The pulpit was panelled, painted green and retained 
that color until 1817, when it was stained in imitation 
of mahogany. In the center was a semi-circular en- 
largement to accommodate the ofiicating minister. On 
its top in front was a dark colored cushion with tassels 
hanging from the corners. On the cushion was a large 
Bible, and on each side, attached to the pulpit, was a 
brass candlestick. The ascent to the pulpit was by a 
steep stairs — five steps — leading to a broader platform 
step, whereon the minister, turning to the right, half 
around, opened the pulpit door and ascending two more 
steps entered the pulpit, the seat whereof was a naked 
board. Back of the pulpit was a window with two 
pilasters on each side. From the ceiling, above the 
window, secured by an iron rod fastened to the plate 
and its outer edge, hung the far-famed and indispensa- 
ble sounding board. It was somewhat semi-circular, 
v/ith four angles, projecting quite over the pulpit, and 
the most curious and singular piece of work in the 
house. 

"In front of the pulpit was a small pew, the floor of 
which was raised to the level of the lowest pulpit stair. 
The front of this pew was panelled, and the only seats 
were for one person on each side of the semi-circular 
enlargement of the pulpit. This was the Deacon's seat 
or pew, and was from age to age occupied by them, who 
therein faced and overlooked the congregation. A 
Deacon in any other seat in time of public worship 
would have been deemed out of place. 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BRWGEHAMPTON 197 

"A board attached to the front of this pew by hinges 
and turned up at a level with its top was the communion 
table, which was secured in its place by two braces 
from the outside to the panels underneath. 

''The passage from the front door to the pulpit, called 
the broad aisle, divided the lower part of the house 
equally, and one side was occupied exclusively by males 
and the other by females. 

"The seats were framed workof oak timber, verystrong. 
On either side of the pulpit were the 'short seats.' On 
the side of the Broad Aisle the seats were called the 
'square bodies.' In the different aisles were small seats 
for children. The gallery stairs were in the front cor- 
ners of the house commencing near the end doors 
going toward the front about two thirds up and then 
turning abruptly toward the centre. There was a pas- 
sage from the front door to the stairs leaving three 
seats next the ceiling which were occupied by colored 
people. 

"There were no aisles in the galleries. The seats 
there were partitioned in front across the middle as the 
dividing line between the sexes. They were six in 
number, extending without a break along the sides and 
front of the House. Over the gallery stairs were pews, 
square and with seats all around except at the door. 
Both above and below, the seats were open and free. 
The assessors who fixed the rates to be paid the min- 
ister at the yearly meetings directed the place where 
heads of families should sit. The old and honored in 
front, and younger in the rear. Thus, the young passed 
from the seats for children in the aisles below to those 
back in the galleries, then to the front seats there, then 
in advancing years to the seats in the rear below; and 
if living to old age, moved perhaps to the very front. 
Thus, it often happened that by successive changes 
from childhood to age, persons had passed through 
the entire routine of seats from the smallest to the most 



198 MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 

honorable. When no rule of seating prevailed, the 
elder often occupied the middle of the meeting house, 
the younger, deferring to them, took rear seats, and 
thus the rear became crowded and the front unoccu- 
pied. The order of seating while remedying this evil 
created another. Some, thinking themselves as old, as 
honorable, rich and deserving as others who were pre- 
ferred in seats, left the meeting house entirely. So that 
in 1816 all the seats on the lower floor were removed, 
pews put in their place which were yearly hired at auc- 
tion, wherewith the minister was paid. Even this 
change so ofifended a few that they forsook attendance 
on the church. The separate seating of the sexes thus 
ceased." * 

This building was taken down in 1842 and the new\ 
and present, building dedicated Jan. 17, 1843.! As to 
the location of this third church, Mr. Hildreth stated 
that the Sagg people wanted to rebuild on the same 
site, while others wanted to build on the "Western 
Parsonage," and that finally they made a trade with 
William Jones, "they getting the church yard and giv- 
ing him the parsonage land to the south of his place 
across to Hildreth Street. Mr. Francis, I think, bought 
some of the remaining parsonage land, and perhaps 
Dr. Wright purchased a portion also." In regard to a 
parsonage he adds that when the Rev. Cornelius H. 
Edgar settled here in November, 1845, h^ hired the 
house of David Rose, and as that was not convenient, 
the congregation built the present parsonage where 
Mr. Newman now lives. 

I have already noted the Parsonage Land laid out in 
1695 and in 1712. On April 2, 1751, another tract of 

* H. P. Hedges — Bi-Centennial Address. 

t The first sermon in the second church was from II Chron. 6:18 
and the last from Lev. 16:13. 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMFTON 199 

land, described in the foot note * was laid out, and this 
was the "Swamp Parsonage," on which the old Wool- 
worth house was built, in which lived first, the Rev. 
James Brown and later the Rev. Aaron Woolworth, as 
\v'\\\ be mentioned more at length in the chapter on old 
bouses. 

In reference to the building of the present church, 
Mr. A. M. Cook has kindly given me the following facts : 

There was a Special Parish Meeting held March 3. 
1842, at which Deacon Jeremiah Haines presided, and 
a resolution was then passed to secure a vote of all the 
male members of the Society as to a site for the new 
building, and another appointing Isaac M. Pierson, 
Hugh Halsey and James B. Halsey a committee to can- 
vass the parish and ascertain the wishes of the people. 
The committee for the raising of funds consisted of 
Daniel H. Haines, Edwin Hedges, Levi D, Wright, 
William Fordham, Enoch Halsey and Richard Cook. 
By the next meeting $5,057 had been raised, and this 
amount was afterward increased to $5,493.56. A Build- 
ing Committee consisting of Alfred Pierson, Henry 
White, Nathan Rogers, Hugh Halsey, Luther Halsey 
and David Halsey, was appointed to act with the Trus- 
tees, who were Richard Halsey, Sullivan Cook and 
James H. Topping. 

The first site selected was upon the high ground on 
the Western Parsonage just west of Mr. W. H. H. 
Rogers' barn, and some of the building material was 
hauled to that spot before it was decided to change to 

* "All that Peice of land upland swamp land meadow land lying 
Northward of the road and near the house of Silas White de- 
ceased, bounded West by the lands of Charles Howell, South by a 
stake set for the purpose twelve foot to the North of ye northwest 
corner of said White's Barn, and from that stake Running west 
four degrees North while it meets Charles Howells land, also 
part of the said South side is bounded by the said Silas White's 
land which he had of the town, and eastwardly it is bounded by 
the mill creek or brook and mill pond and Mr. Wick's Swamp, and 
Northwardly by Thomas Howell." T. R., Vol. HI, p. 149. 



200 MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 

the present site which was bought of Mr. WiUiam 
Jones, as noted by Mr. Hildreth. The contractor and 
builder was Joseph P. Lamb, of Sag Harbor, and the 
contract price must have been under $6,000. Most of 
the himber came from the western part of the state, 
but some of the timbers were utihzed from the old 
church building.* The contract was made in May, 
1842, the building completed in December and dedi- 
cated, as has been said, on January 17th, 1843. A con- 
temporary diary, which gives the date, also says that 
there were about 2,000 people present at the service. 

This Church and the Hampton House are, archi- 
tecturally, the two best buildings in the village, and 
it is noteworthy that the artist, Nathan Rogers, who 
has already been spoken of, should have built the one 
and been on the building committee for the other, t 

The first minister, as we have seen, was the Rev. 
Ebenezer White, who died Feb. 4, 1756, in his eighty- 
fourth year, and was the son of Ebenezer, born 1648, 
died Aug. 24, 1703. His mother is sometimes said to 
have been Hannah White, daughter of Peregrine 
White, and granddaughter of William White, who 
came in the Mayflower, but this, I believe, has not been 
proved. The Rev. Ebenezer White was graduated from 
Harvard in 1692, at the age of 20, and was a young 
man of about 23 when called to the church here, over 
v/hich he was ordained Oct. 9, 1695. We have already 
noted that he bought 10 acres of land in April of that 
year, on which he made his home, tradition stating that 
he first boarded with Deacon Elnathan Topping, whose 
daughter he married. On May 27th, of the same year, 

* It has been said that the last service was held in the old 
church June 12, 1842, but an entry in a contemporary diary reads: 
"Sat., Feb. 18th, 1842— old Presbyterian Church down." 

t In September, 1904, in a remarkably severe storm, the steeple 
of this church was broken off about 10 feet above the roof, 60 feet 
above the ground, about 40 feet of the spire landing in the roof, 
one half remaining stuck in the hole it made. News, Sept. 16, 1904. 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 201 

the Town voted that he should have "15 acres of land 
laid out to him and his heyres forever, where it may 
be convenient for him, provided he settle at Sag- 
abonack and Meacox and continues with them his life 
time, or seven years from this present date." * He 
served as minister for fifty-three years, resigning June 
15th, 1748, on account of ill health. This was the year 
in which the "New Light" church was built, and the 
dissensions in his Congregation may have hastened this 
action. Tradition states that the first evening meeting 
ever held here was in 1741, when the Rev. Gilbert Ten- 
nant preached. 

Mr. White's immediate successor was the Rev. James 
Brown, whose origin is uncertain, one authority stating 
that he came from Mendham, N. J., another that he was 
a descendant of the Rev. Charles Brown, who left Mas- 
sachusetts in 1636, and a connection of the founders of 
Brown University, while a third states that he was 
born in Connecticut. Wherever it may have been, he 
was born about 1721, and his tombstone records his 
death April 22, 1788, in the 68th year of his age. He 
was a graduate of Yale in the class of 1747 and was or- 
dained here when about 27 years old, on June 15, 1748, 
the day of Mr. White's resignation. Thompson states 
that he married first a daughter of the Rev. Ebenezer 
]'*rime, of Huntington, who survived her marriage only 
six weeks ; second, a daughter of the Rev. Sylvanus 
White, who survived only three months, and third, 
Sarah, daughter of Nathaniel Williams, of Huntington, 
by whom he had one son and six daughters. The same 
author says of him : "Those who knew him best, speak 
of him as a gentleman, not only of talents, but possess- 
ing many amiable qualities, with great industry and de- 
votion to his sacred calling." | Prime quotes that "he 

* T. R., Vol. II, p. 58. Mr. C. H. Hildreth stated that this was the 
Capt. Jeremiah Ludlow place. News, Feb. 11, 1910. 

t Thompson, Hist, of Long Id., Vol. I, p. 344. 



202 MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 

was distinguished for great soundness in his theolog- 
ical views and ably defended the great doctrines of the 
Reformation." f Judge Hedges wrote, "I gather from 
tradition that he was of massive frame, melancholic 
temperament, dil^dent and distrustful of himself, of 
robust common sense, and very creditable scholarly at- 
tainments. Oct. 23, 1754, at Brookhaven, on occasion 
of the ordination of the Rev. Benjamin Talmage, Brown 
delivered the charge to the people. This charge, in 
print, is the only like memorial known to the writer. 
It is pregnant with good sense, has marks of scholar- 
ship, good condensed logic, sound piety, accurate study 
of and appeal to the Scriptures, much modesty and 
diffidence. It is a production very creditable both to 
the head and heart of the author." % On account of 
bodily infirmities, he resigned March 27, 1775, but re- 
sided here until his death thirteen years later, living on 
his farm in Scuttle Hole, recently owned by the late 
George Strong. Mr. Brown, at one time, also owned 
the Woolworth House and undoubtedly lived there. It 
was during his ministry that George Whitfield preached 
here, shortly before the revival of 1764, on the text, 
"Keep Yourselves in the Love of God." 

During the whole period of the Revolution, the 
church was largely scattered, and there was no minister 
until the third. Rev. Aaron Woolworth, D. D., was or- 
dained Aug. 30, 1787. 

In the meantime. Deacon David Hedges, to a consid- 
erable extent carried on the work of the church, and of 
him Deacon Stephen Rose wrote, "during the desolat- 
ing scenes of the Revolutionary War, when the church 
had no pastor, and his brother Deacons only returned 
to die and be buried among the people. Deacon David 
Hedges never deserted his post. He kept up public 
worship, officiated in the absence of the minister, read 

t Prime, Hist, of Long Id., p. 200. 
% Bi-Centennial Address, p. 10. 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 203 

sermons, and prayed. . . . Not only in the church 
but at prayer meetings and funerals and other occa- 
sions, his prayers were solemn and edifying." * 

The Rev. Aaron Woolworth was born at Long 
Meadow, Mass., Oct. 25, 1763, graduated at Yale, 1784, 
was ordained Aug. 30, 1787, received the honorary de- 
gree of D. D. from Princeton in 1809, and died April 
4, 1821. He married Mary, daughter of the Rev. Sam- 
uel Buell, D, D., of East Hampton. While unattractive 
in appearance, he seems to have been able, pious, and 
nuch beloved. He "was a man of very great intel- 
lectual activity and untiring industry. He assisted stu- 
dents in preparing for the ministry. He taught many 
students the classic languages. He wrote with ap- 
parent ease, grace and power. In 1800 he communicated 
a long and interesting account of the Revival here of 
1799 and 1800, which was published in the Connecticut 
Evangelical Magazine of the latter year, and a some- 
what similar account of the same revival published in 
connection with the life and writings of Samuel Buell, 
D. D. His hold on the affection and esteem of his 
people was very strong. When after a pastorate of 
about 34 years, he was borne to his tomb by them, their 
regret and reverence were heartfelt." t 

It was during his ministry, and at his house, that was 
organized "The Religious Female Cent Society of 
Bridge-Hampton" on July 6, 1815, numbering at first 
33 members, later increased to over 100. This organiza- 
tion, now called the "Women's Missionary Society," 
celebrated its centenary on May 27, 1915, and has now 
begun its second century of usefulness. Another or- 
ganization established during his ministry, was the 
"Bridgehampton Moral Society," founded March 31, 
1817, "for the suppression of vice and the promotion of 
virtue." The first officers were Deacon David Hedges, 

* Quoted by H. P. Hedges, Centennial Address, p. 17. 
t Bi-Centennial Address. 



204 MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 

Pres. ; Stephen Halsey, V.-Pres. ; Dr. Samuel H. Rose, 
Treas. ; Stephen Rose, Secy.; Abraham Topping, Caleb 
Pierson, Jesse Woodruff and Jacob Halsey, Committee; 
William Pierson, Lewis Sandford, and Silas Corwith, 
sub-Committee to solicit additional members, f 

The fourth minister was the Rev. Amzi Francis, born 
at West Hartford, Conn., July 31, 1793, ordained here 
April 17, 1823 (he commenced preaching here the year 
before), and died here Oct. 18, 1845, the funeral being 
held at 2 o'clock on the 20th. "Mr. Francis was of small 
stature, nervous temperament, his large speaking black 
eyes denoted intellectual and sympathetic action. He 
was scholarly in habit and appearance, studious, indus- 
trious, devout, intensely in earnest, spiritual, medi- 
tative, logical, small, one of God's own uncomplaining, 
patient, self-denying saints." * 

The Rev. Cornelius H. Edgar, D. D., the fifth pastor, 
was born at Rahway, N. J., 181 1, ordained here June 10, 
1846 (first sermon here Nov. 23, 1845), resigned Oct. 2, 
1853, and died at Easton, Pa., Dec. 23, 1884. "He was 
tall, of commanding presence, in form symmetric, in 
gesture graceful, constitutionally positive, no trimmer, 
no idler. As a sermonizer he excelled. He was in man- 
ner impressive, in thought rich, logical, suggestive. A 
sound, strong, earnest, honest preacher of Jesus 
Christ." § 

The sixth minister, the Rev. David M. Miller, was 
born in Elizabethtown, N. J., June 12, 1827, graduated 
from New York University 1850, from Princeton The- 
ological Seminary 1853, ordained here April 27, 1854, 
and died here June 29, 1855, having married Arabella 
Halsey, of this place, very shortly before his death. 
Although here only a year, he had very greatly en- 
deared himself to his congregation. 

t For Constitution, see Story of a Celebration, pp. 76-77. 
* Bi-Centennial Address. 
§ Ibid. 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 205 

The next pastor, the Rev. Thomas M. Gray, preached 
bis first sermon here Jan. 20, 1856, and was installed 
April 23, 1856. He was a son of the Rev. John Gray, 
D. D., of Easton, Pa., and was a graduate of Lafayette 
College, 185 1, and of Princeton Theological Seminary. 
He remained here ten years, leaving April 10, 1866, 
preaching afterward at Derby, Conn., and in and around 
Salem, Westchester County, where he died (Salem 
Center) Dec. 24, 1883, in the fifty-fourth year of his 
age. "As a companion few men were more amiable, 
more genial, more social or of more pleasing manners 
than Mr. Gray." 

Eighth in order of succession was the Rev. William 
P. Strickland, D. D., who was born at Pittsburgh, Pa., 
Aug. 17, 180.9, graduated from the college at Athens, 
Ohio, and supplied this pulpit from May 13, 1866, until 
Oct. 5, 1875, when he was installed, remaining until 
Oct. 22, 1878, when he retired on account of health, 
dying July 15, 1884, at Ocean Grove, N. J. He was the 
author of many books, including "A .History of the 
American Bible Society," "Christianity Demonstrated," 
"Genius and Mission of Methodism" (he had entered 
the Methodist Church), "Pioneers of the West," "Man- 
ual of Biblical Literature," "Life of Peter Cartwright," 
etc. "He was an industrious, accurate, profound 
scholar . . . spiritual, pure minded, of a lofty type, 
eloquent, impressive." * 

Between 1878 and March i, 1883, when the present 
and ninth pastor, the Rev. Arthur Newman, was in- 
stalled, the pulpit was supplied successively by the Rev, 
Samuel Dodd, the Rev. Mr. Schafif, the Rev. Mr. Fris- 
sell, and the Rev. Giles P. Hawley. While it is my in- 
tention to publish no biographical notes of any one now 
living, I may mention that in October, 191 5, Mr. New- 
man was elected Moderator of the Synod of the Presby- 

* H. P. Hedges, Address. 



206 MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMFTON 

terian Church in this state, the first to be so elected 
from Long Island. 

About 1748 there was organized another church, 
known as the Separate, or "New Light," church, due 
to the presence and efforts of the Rev. James Daven- 
port, fourth minister of the church in Southold and 
great grandson of the Rev. John Davenport, of New 
Haven.* He had come under the influence of the wild 
and unbalanced enthusiast, Ferris, in whose footsteps 
he followed, exhorting members of other churches to 
eject such ministers as he chose to believe unconverted, 
urging dissatisfied persons to separate themselves and 
form new churches, and himself becoming almost as 
Vv'ild as his master, provoking his hearers to hysterical 
outbursts. It is said that he once addressed a meeting 
tor nearly twenty-four consecutive hours. 

Many joined in the movement of secession from the 
Presbyterian church, and a new building, which had 
four roofs coming to a point in the middle, and so known 
as the "peaked" or "picked" church, was built on the 
southwest corner of New Light Lane and the main 
country road, opposite the Hay Ground Cemetery, in 
which lie the remains of its first pastor. When the 
church was dissolved, about 1800, the building was 
moved and remodelled into a dwelling and is said to 
have been the house on Ocean Road, just north of Mrs. 
Kahle's and occupied by her daughter, Mrs. Peck. A 
generation ago it was also used as a private school kept 
by the Misses Halsey. 

In 1752, the Rev. Elisha Paine became pastor of this 

* He was born 1710, grad. Yale 1732, ordained at Southold 1738 
and dismissed 1746. This movement of 1740, sometimes called 
"Davenport's Revival," was the first known revival movement, 
although they occurred frequently thereafter. Space does not per- 
mit of a discussion of them here, and the reader is referred to 
Judge Hedges' Bi-Centennial address, and the "Faithful Narra- 
tive," etc., of Dr. Buell, edited with other matter by Mr. Wool- 
worth, 1808. The dates of revivals have been 1741-2, 1764, 1785, 
1796, 1800, 1809, 1817, 1822, 1831, 1842, 1846, 1850, 1863, 1869, 
1874, 1877, 1883. 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 207 

church, remaining in charge until his death in 1775, 
aged 85, and was a prominent figure in the ecclesiastical 
history of Bridgehampton. As occasional errors have 
tound their way into print concerning him, I here give 
a full account which Mr. Pelletreau contributed to the 
News, Oct. 2, 1908: 

"His ancestor was Thomas Paine (or Payne) who 
came to Massachusetts in 1624 and settled in Yarmouth 
in 1639, and was the first representative to the general 
court in Plymouth. His only son, Thomas, was born 
about 1614 and settled in Eastham when there were 
only 19 families there. He was admitted a freeman in 
Plymouth June i, 1658. He was a man of prominence 
and deputy to the old Colony Court for many years and 
held many high positions. He married, about 1650, 
Mary, daughter of Nathaniel and Constance (Hopkins) 
Snow. She was a grand-daughter of Stephen Hopkins, 
the Mayflower Pilgrim. They were the parents of 
many children. Of these Elisha, who was the fourth 
son, settled at Barnestable about 1690, but finally set- 
tled in Canterbury, Conn., where he was a prominent 
citizen, and died there Feb. 7, 1735. When the first 
church was established there, in 171 1, he was one of 
the seven members. He married, Jan. 20, 1685, Re- 
becca, daughter of John Doane. They had a large fam- 
ily, and three of his sons were ministers of the Gospel. 
Of these sons, the second was Rev. Elisha Paine, who 
was born in Eastham, Mass., Dec. 29, 1693,* and was 
educated for the law, and became one of the most tal- 
ented attorneys in Connecticut. Becoming interested 
in religious matters, he abandoned the law and began 
pleaching. Disliking the Saybrook Platform, by which 
all the Connecticut churches were governed, he advo- 
cated greater religious liberty, and thus encountered 
the enmity of the church authorities. He was arrested 
at Woodstock for preaching without authority, and cast 

* His tombstone says "died Aug. 26, A. D. 1775, AE. 83." 



208 MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMFTON 

into jail in Worcester, Feb. 19, 1743, and was not re- 
leased until May 11, following. Not dsimayed by this 
experience, he continued as in itinerant, and visited 
ii'any places and preached two hundred and forty-four 
sermons, from July to December. Returning to Wind- 
ham, Conn., he was again arrested and imprisoned for 
preaching 'without being an ordained and settled min- 
ister.' Public opinion soon compelled his release. He 
then came to Bridgehampton, and in May 11, 1752, he 
was ordained 'the first minister of the Congregational 
Church of Christ.' He continued preaching until fif- 
teen days before his death, which occurred Aug. 26, 

1775- 

"Mr. Paine married Mary Johnson Sept. 25, 1720. He 
had an only son, Elisha, who was born in Canterbury, 
Conn. In 1776 he was living at Cardogan, N. H., and 
was one of the pioneer settlers of Orange in that state. 
He had a wife, Elizabeth, and a large family, their oldest 
child, Elisha, was born March 24, 1763, in Orange, and 
settled in Lebanon, N. H. He was also the parent of 
a large family, and one of his sons, James Ralston Paine, 
had a son, Lyman Cole Paine, now living in Lisbon, 
N. H., a very prominent and respected citizen. The 
other descendants of the Rev. Elisha Paine are numer- 
ous and respectable." 

Of the fruits of this movement, Judge Hedges said in 
1886, "at this distance of time, in the absence of records, 
with a history written only by its foes, we may not 
clearly estimate the merits of the New Light movement. 
To some extent it seemed to be a protest of the activ- 
ities of the church against its inaction. But its wild, 
unregulated, disorderly action prevented its progress 
and promoted its decay. Its bitter divisions weakened 
the power of the church . . . Deacon Stephen 
Rose was more fully versed in local and church history 
than any other individual known to the writer. He 
said : 'Many spiritual minded godly persons, and espe- 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BKIDGEHAMFTON 209 

cially many very excellent women belonged to the Sep- 
arate Church.' He spoke of their intense zeal, fervent 
devotion, purity of life, earnestness of purpose and 
spirituality of soul in terms so strong as to leave no 
doubt that he believed the 'Separate Branch' in Bridge- 
hampton was a branch of the true vine." 

The first Methodist Church was built in 1820, five 
years after the first sermon had been preached here by 
a Methodist minister, in the old Hay Ground school 
house, and the building stood on Ocean Road, a little 
north of Mr. Francis' house, then standing. Rev. Reu- 
ben Harris was the pastor, and the building committee 
for this first structure were Capt. William Halse3^ 
W. M. Howell, Silas Woodruff and Hiram Sandford. 
The first resident pastor, however, did not live here 
until eleven years later, coming in 1831, and was the 
Rev. John Trippet, Soon after he came, a new church 
was built, the site being on the Triangle Commons, east 
of the present property of St. Ann's. This building- 
was dedicated June, 1833, and it has been said that the 
first building was sold to William Corwith, who moved 
it and added it on to his own house."* In 1871, the 
second building was moved to the present site and 
$5,000 spent in enlarging it. 

The pastors have been Revs. Reuben Harris, John 
Trippet, Samuel Merwin, C. B. Sing, George Hollis, S. 
Rushmore, William Wake, L. D. Nickerson, William 
Bangs, J. O. Worth, J. S. Haugh, William Lawrence, 
f. Stanley D'Orsay, C. W. Gallagher, G. A. Graves, 
W. W. McGuire, E. H. Dutcher, A. C. Bowdish, John 
Brien, W. T. Hall, William M. Carr, A. A. Lathabury, 
T. J. Shackelton, T. L. Price, H. Blatz, W. C. Wilson, 
George L. Thomson, A. M. Wilkins, J. W. Eggleston, 
and J. A. Swan. 

While this book deals with the past rather than the 
present, it may be added that two other denominations 

* C. H. Hildreth, News, Mar. 4, 1910, 



210 MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 

now have churches here, the Protestant Episcopal and 
the Roman Cathohc. 

The former was estabhshed as a Mission of St. Luke's, 
East Hampton, holding its first service in the old Sand- 
ford Homestead, then the summer home of the late 
Miss Hanno J. Sherlock, Aug. 12, 1906. Later Miss 
Sherlock gave the church a lot adjoining her home, on 
Ocean Road, and a former clubhouse, owned by Mr. 
and Mrs. John Deshler, Mr. and Mrs. Edmund Miller, 
and Mr. and Mrs. John Sherlock was given, moved onto 
the land, and after being remodelled was used as a sum- 
mer chapel (first service June 30, 1907). Services had 
been held during the winter at the residence of Dr. 
S. R. Corwith. On June 10, 1907, the Rev. Samuel C. 
Fish, B. D., who had been appointed associate to the 
rector of St. Luke's, began his duties, and St. Ann's 
was put in his charge. He took up his residence here 
in 1908. in which year the present property was pur- 
chased, connection with East Hampton being severed 
the same year. The summer chapel was moved to the 
new site, the old Atlantic House used as a Parish House, 
and the present rectory moved over from Sagg as the 
gift of Mr. and Mrs. John Deshler. In 191 5 the pres- 
ent Parish House was built, completely furnished, 
and given for the use of the Church and community by 
Mr. John E. Berwind. 

In regard to the latest house of worship to be built, 
the Roman Catholic Church of the Queen of the Most 
Holy Rosary, I have been given the following by the 
Rev. Father Cherry: 

"For many years the Catholic people of this vicinity 
journeyed to St. Andrew's Church at Sag Harbor to 
assist at mass and participate in other services of their 
faith. A great proportion of the Catholic population of 
Bridgehampton was baptized in the Sag Harbor 
Church. As the people began to grow numerically, 
thev felt anxious to have a Catholic church of their 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 211 

own, wherefore, in the early part of the year of 1912, 
a delegation of Bridgehampton Catholics called on the 
Very Rev. Francis J. O'Hara, pastor at Southampton, 
and dean of the eastern portion of Suffolk County, and 
placed their desire before him. The wish of the people 
was in turn placed before the Rt. Rev. Charles E. Mc- 
Donnell, D. D., Bishop of the Diocese, The Rt. Rev. 
Bishop commissioned Father O'Hara to undertake the 
preliminaries for the establishment of a Catholic parish 
in Bridgehampton. Through the instrumentality of 
Mr. Raymond Magee and Mr. Paul Roesel, of Sag- 
aponack, ground was purchased on the north side of 
Main Street at the westerly approach to the village. 

"In March, 1913, Father O'Hara was transferred to 
the rectorship of St. James' Pro-Cathedral, Brooklyn, 
and he was succeeded by Rev. Thomas J. Leonard, who 
immediately took up Father O'Hara's work where he 
was obliged to abandon it. In June, 1913, Father 
I,eonard got an assistant in the person of the Rev. Ar- 
thur P. Leonard, a newly ordained priest. Ever since 
the 8th of that month, mass has been offered every Sun- 
day and holy day in Bridgehampton. For over two 
years the mass was offered in Atlantic Hall, until the 
church was completed. The church was incorporated 
as a religious organization on May 18, 1914. The in- 
corporators were: Rt. Rev. Charles E. McDonnell, 
Bishop of Brooklyn ; Rt. Rev. George Kaupert, Vicar 
General of Brooklyn ; Rev. Thomas J. Leonard, pastor, 
and Messrs. Paul Roesel and Henry T. Haney, lay trus- 
tees. The present church, a handsome structure of 
pointed architecture, was designed by F. Burrall Hoff- 
man, and the constructors were Donnelly & Corrigan, of 
Southampton. The church was solemnly dedicated to 
Catholic worship by Rt. Rev. Charles E. McDonnell, 
D. D., on Sunday, July 11, 1915, the sermon being- 
preached by Mons. O'Hara, the originator of the work. 
On March 2, 1916, Rev. John F. Cherry, senior assist- 



212 MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 

ant at St. Patrick's Church, Brooklyn, was appointed 
pastor of the churches at Southampton and Bridge- 
liampton, and Father Thomas J. Leonard was made 
rector of the Sacred Hearts Church in Brooklyn. The 
new church has an attendance of about 300 each Sun- 
day. Father Cherry is assisted by Rev. John J. Jur- 
asko, D. D." 



1 CHAPTER X 

OLD HOUSES. MILLS. AND TOLL GATE 

The earliest houses of the first settlers which have 
survived were of the familiar type, two stories in front, 
with the roof going up a little in front, and then the 
long characteristic slope to the back, coming down 
sometimes to within three or four feet of the ground. 
Although these were the earliest houses, they were not 
in all cases the earliest habitations as tradition tells us 
and the Records confirm by sundry transfers of '"land 
and cellar." 

What these earliest abodes were like, we may learn 
from a most interesting document in the Dutch archives, 
in which advice and information are given to prospective 
settlers, and from which I quote the following descrip- 
tion of a "cellar." * 

"Those in New Netherland and especially in New 
England, who have no means to build farm houses at 
first according to their wishes, dig a square pit in the 
ground, cellar fashion, six or seven feet deep, as long and 
as broad as they think proper, case the earth inside all 
round the wall with timber, which they fine with the 
bark of trees or something else to prevent the caving m 

* Docts. Rel. to the Col. Hist. N. Y. Holland Docts., Vol. I, p. 368. 



214 MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 

of the earth ; floor this cellar with plank, and wainscot 
it overhead for a ceiling, raise a roof of spars clear up 
and cover the spars with bark or green sods, so that 
they can live dry and warm in these houses with their 
entire families for two, three and four years." * 

And in such dwellings, some, perhaps many, of the 
early settlers lived for the first season or two. Of such, 
however, not a trace remains, and it is only with the 
houses proper that we have to do here. The typical 
house, which remained unchanged in style for over a 
hundred years, was single, with the two stories in front 
and frequently less than one behind. It was unpainted, 
usually shingled vvith two-foot cedar shingles, and also 
roofed with shingles, although thatch was used at first. 
In at least one old house, now known as the Engle 
house, in Sagg, it was found that the shingles were set 
iu pitch, which must have made them rather more water 
than fire proof. I imagine that shingles were not always 
easy to get at first, for in 1694 Nathaniel Howell and 
Joseph Hildreth are ordered to "take the first oppor- 
tunity to by some seder shingles to Repaire-the south 
end of ye parsonage house, and as many Clapboards as 
will Clapboard the peak end, and lay the Shingles." f 
There were always two nails to a shingle, and these, 
like the bolts and locks, were always hand wrought. 

The front room, in which the wainscoting was usually 
painted blue, was lit by two small windows with 6x8 
glass, the size being limited by the expense. The 
earliest windows of all were many of them of diamond- 
shaped panes, and leaded. 

The chimneys and fireplaces were enormous masses 
of brickwork. The house in which Miss H. B. Hedges 

* I have heard the question asked why the early settlers used 
oxen so much instead of horses. In this same article, speaking 
of the cattle required, it says: "Yoke oxen for the plough inas- 
much as in new lands, full of roots, oxen go forward steadily under 
the plough, and horses stand still, or with a start break the 
harness in pieces." Ibid. 

t T. R., Vol. V, p. 67. 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGE fl AM FTON 215 

now lives was built at the beginning of the Civil War, 
and an old house which stood on the same site was torn 
down to make place for it. The walls of the present 
house are lined throughout with brick, all of which was 
taken from the chimney of the old house, after which 
some still remained. The very earliest chimneys of all, 
however, which of course have not survived, were made 
with wood frames, lathed and heavily plastered inside 
and out. Mr. Pelletreau says that when lathed they 
were said to be "catted," and when plastered "daubed." 
Jt is needless to say that such chimneys were very poor 
risks indeed, and we find many entries in the Records 
in regard to them. For example, under date of March 
19, 1665, we read, "It is ordered that two men shall go 
tomorrow morning and view the Chimnies in ye town, 
and they shall give warning to ye owners of such 
Chimnies as are in their Judgement to bee pulled down 
and made new, that they pull down such theire Chim- 
nies within six days, and make them probably safe from 
chance of firing, within ye said six dayes. After which 
time being expired and ye said Chimnies deffective as 
aforesaid not downe, the said men by themselves or 
some yt they shall appoint shall pull down the said 
Chimnies at the townes cost, and noe fire bee made in 
ye house until a safe chimney bee furnished under pen- 
alty of paying five pounds to ye Country," etc.* And 
again on "9 ber. 6. 66. It is ordered that every Inhab- 
itant belonging to this towne shall have and set up to 
his Chimney a substantial! ladder, which shall reach 
at least to the top of ye house," etc. f 

How soon bricks came into general use for chimneys, 
I do not know. The great brickmaker of the early days 
was John Beswick, who lived in Mecox, and frequent 
transactions with him are on record, of which the earliest 
I have noted is dated Aug. 27, 1677, in which 1/3 of 

* T. R., Vol. V, p. 25. 
tT. R.,Vol.V,p. 26. 



216 MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 

I,ot no. 12 at Mecox is given in payment for "a parcel 
of brick." % The old bricks were frequently somewhat 
more irregular in shape than our uniform modern ones, 
as well as somewhat larger. Miss Hedges tells me that 
m their old house on the west side of Sagg Main Street, 
which was burned down, the bricks in the chimney were 
very much bigger than ours and also highly glazed. 
What this glaze could have been I do not know. The 
fireplace, as was usual, was big enough to sit in, made 
of stone and the back also of stone, and undoubtedly 
dated from a very early period, as the house was altered 
in 1709, and had originally been of the sloping roof 
type. 

The bricks were made both at Seponack and Long 
Springs (perhaps also elsewhere), for in 1690 Josiah 
Raynor gives Beswick }^ oi a. 30-acre lot in Scuttle 
Hole for "a certain cjuantity of well burned good sub- 
stantial bricks, so many as will sufficiently serve to build 
such a stack of Chimnies as are in John Raynor's now 
dwelling house, to be delivered by John Beswick, either 
of the Kiln at Seponack or Long Springs," etc.* The 
old chimneys took up much space in the small houses 
of the day, and made of the hall a mere entry, while 
"the front stairs zig-zagged and turned, and wound and 
squirmed toward the upper rooms." 

The timbers were very large, usually of oak, and 
hand hewn, while in at least one case, f the building- 
was also sheathed in oak planks two inches thick, which 
would almost seem to have been for purposes of de- 
fense. 

The houses were almost invariably placed with the 

two-story front facing as due south as though set with 

a compass, regardless of what relation this would 

bring them into with the road, while the roads running 

t T. R., Vol. II, p. 68. 
* T. R., Vol. V, p. 267. 

t The house on the point between Main St. and the North Sea 
Road, Southampton. 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 217 

north were curiously laid not quite due north, but, to 
a great extent, running on an "eleven o'clock line." 
There have been preserved no specifications of these 
early houses, but there has a set come down to us of an 
early barn, in 1686, and as it is short I give it here. "A 
good sufficient frame of a barn with posts in the ground, 
26 feet in length and 20 feet in breadth and 12 feet be- 
tween ye plate and ye ground, with good white oak 
posts and well braced and tenonted and studded for a 
four-foot and a half clapboard, and lathed for 2 feet 
shingles, with the laths let into the three principals, so 
that they shall reach three laths. And to frame a girth 
between the bay posts of about six feet from the ground 
and to build a lean-to of 8 feet wide studded and lathed 
for the same clapboards and shingles. And to make two 
doors to ye said barn, one of 6 feet wide and the other 
3 feet wide." * 

As to the value of these early houses in their day, we 
find information in a number of inventories which have 
come down to us in connection with the settling of es- 
tates. Thus, John White's "£200 allotment with 
housing and fencing" was valued at £150 (1662) ; John 
Cooper's ''house & land" at £21 (1662); Josiah Stan- 
borough's "howse, land, and accomodations" at £150 
( 1661 ). In the inventory of the part of Lyon Gardiner's 
estate situated on the island (1664) "ye great howse 
and long table" is set down at £100, "the New house" 
at £30, "the new barne" at £40, "ye olde barne" £10, 
"the house Simons lives in" £20, "ye Bake house & 
cellar," £10. 

Of the older houses still standing here, it is impos- 
sible, I think, to state definitely the year in which any 
cne of them was built, with the possible exception of the 
Haines house, now altered beyond recognition. The 
"Forty Acre Division" was laid out in 1678, and ratified 
in 1679, and in the drawing, lot No. 4 was not drawn 

* T, R., Vol. V, p. 244. 



218 MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMFTON 

for, as it was "already taken." Of this, Mr. Cook 
says,* "Upon this lot, as near as can be ascertained, 
stands a house that was built in 1679. This conclusively 
appears by marks upon the plate in the southwest 
corner of the upstairs room, and directly below that 
date are these words and figures, "built (or rebuilt) by 
James Haines 1779.' Formerly it was of the 'long- 
roof pattern as was very plain from the cut of the 
rafters and posts, face to the south, long roof to the 
north, as was the custom. When it was rebuilt by 
James Haines it was altered to two full stories. The 
Haines family had always owned this house and lot and 
lived here since white men first claimed individual own- 
ership, until five or six years ago [written 1910]. The 
property was sold to William Collins about five years , 
ago and, after being in possession something like a year, 
he sold it to Henry N. Corwith. When Mr. Corwith 
began to repair the old house, the above figures came 
to light. ... A great part of the old frame of 1679 
still remains, staunch and strong apparently as ever, 
showing what resistance to the hand of time can be 
put forth by the native oak of the Long Island forests, 
for this old frame was hand hewed from the forest 
about. Its walls were of shell lime burned here, and this 
shell lime mortar covered a dried mud-mortar wall that 
had been laid upon hand split lath. The chimney was 
immense, with several fireplaces, the one in the 
kitchen of enormous size in which great logs could be 
and were burned. Huge hooks and trammels hung 
from the massive crane in or within its cavernous 
mouth." 

The old Sandford homestead, on Bridge Lane, once 
the home of Ezekiel Sandford, the bridge builder, now 
the summer home of Miss Sherlock, probably dates 
from about 1690, and the other Sandford House nearby, 

* A, M. Cook, in Story of a Celebration. 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 219 

on the northwest corner of Paul's Lane and Ocean 
Road may be well over 200 years old. 

One of the old houses in Sagg, now the summer 
home of Mr. William C. Engle, on the east side of Sagg 
Main Street, has a special interest from the fact that 
when making alterations there in 1909, there was found 
a bundle of papers concealed under the floor of the 
attic. These consisted of deeds, bills, a letter and 
other writings, and were contained in a small tow bag. 
They related to the Pierson family, and had apparently 
been stowed away for safe keeping by Stephen Pierson 
who died in 1788, Why they were placed there we can- 
not say, though my own surmise is that they may have 
been hidden there during the years of the British occu- 
pation in the Revolution. There they remained, at any 
rate, undisturbed for at least 121 years. How old the 
house itself is, we do not know, but it is said to have 
been partly remodelled in 1790. In 1679, Col. Henry 
Pierson (died 1701 ) came into possession of the Job 
Pierson land, and it was once thought he lived there, 
but the discovery of the above papers have made it seem 
likely that he may have built on the Engle place. 

Abraham Pierson's house stood near Hiram S. 
Rogers' tenant house, and it was his grandson, John 
Pierson, who traded that place for the E. G. Sayre place 
vvith Capt. Lodowick Post, as mentioned later. 

Opinion seems uncertain as to whether the old Top- 
ping house east of the Sagg Burying Ground, or the 
Job Pierson house on the west side of the street is the 
older. Job Pierson died 1788, aged 91, and his first son 
was born 1722.* It is possible both houses were built 
about that time, but we cannot tell. The L. Page Top- 
ping house, on the northeast corner of Sagg Main 

* The Story of a Celebration says Job Pierson died 1738, and 
Howell (History) says Feb. 28, 1768. Both agree as to date of 
birth as 1697. His tombstone reads Feb. 28, 1788, aged 91, which 
makes the date of birth correct, but both dates of death are errors 
— probably merely misprints. 



220 MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMFTON 

Street and the main country road, as well as the Elisha 
O. Hedges house, on the west side of Sagg Main Street, 
second south from the country road, have both been 
stated to be two centuries old. The house next east 
of the L. Page Topping house, now owned by Mrs. Rus- 
sell Sage, may have been built about 1763. 

As has already been pointed out, the old Bull's Head 
Tavern (the Briggs house), although built at different 
times, probably runs back in part to near 1685. Mr. 
E. J. Thomson's house on Sagg Street (the old Lemuel 
Pierson house) dates from well before the Revolution, 
and Mr. A. M. Cook's house in Hay Ground is also pre- 
revolutionary. The old Howell house in Poxabogue 
was occupied by Edward Howell in 1718, while the 
house of Mr. Charles S. Rogers in Sagg is in part very 
ancient and is thought to have been altered over a cen- 
tury ago. The old Gelston house on Butter Lane is 
still standing and is now occupied by Edward Dickinson. 
North of that, on the same side of the lane is another 
old Sandford homestead. 

The Pierce Butler farm was formerly the estate of 
Nathan Sandford, who has been said to be the most dis- 
tinguished man ever born in Southampton Township. 
He was born in Bridgehampton Nov. 5, 1777, and rose 
to great wealth as well as fame, becoming Chancellor 
of the State of New York and U. S. Senator from this 
state. He built a magnificent house, one of the finest 
in the United States before the middle of the century, 
in Flushing at a cost of $90,000 for the building alone, 
which was an enormous sum in those days, but house 
and land were sold after his death for less than $16,000. 
Twenty years ago it was being used for a private lunatic 
asylum, and I believe is still standing. He died Oct. 17, 
1838, at Flushing, where he is buried.* 

The date of the building of the "Woolworth house" 

* He was a great grandson of Ezekiel Sanford, the bridge builder, 
the line being Nathan 5, Thomas 4, Thomas 3, Ezekiel 2, Robert 1. 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 221 

(north side of Sagg Road west of the swamp) is uncer- 
tain, but it is pre-Revolutionary without question. In 
this both Judge Hedges and Mr. C. H. Hildreth agreed, 
while the former beHeved that it was the home of Abra- 
ham HoweU sometime before it was occupied by the 
Rev. Mr. Woolworth and the latter did not.* They 
both agreed, however, that the Rev. Mr. Brown resided 
here and sold it to the parish. This has been proved 
subsequently by the coming to light of the deed which 
so transferred the property, dated Feb. 9, i775> as well 
as the re-transfer from the Parish to Mr. Woolworth. 
As this deed is unrecorded, I here print it in part. Deed. 
"James Brown, Minister of the Gospel" deeds to "Jona- 
than Heges, Daniel Heges, Daniel Howell, David Pier- 
son, Samuel White, David Corwithe, Abraham Rose, 
Stephen Halsey, James Hains, William Rogers, Junior, 
Samuel Howell and David Gelston" "Yeomen, being a 
Committee of the Parish of Bridgehampton" for £200 
current money "my now dwelling house with three 
Acres of Land thereunto adjoining. Bounded on the 
North by Parsonage Land and on the South by the 
Highway and on the West by Parsonage Land and 
Highway and on the East by a Pond of Water com- 
monly called and known by the name of the Mill-Pond 
and all Barnes, Houses, out Houses," etc., "only for the 
use and Benefit of the Parish of Bridgehampton now 
being and their successors forever." Signed James 
Browne. Witnesses John Hulbert, Prudence Hulbert. 
On the other side of the deed is the following, "We, 
the Subscribers being a Committee chosen and Impow- 
ered by the Parish of Bridgehampton to confer and 
agree with Mr. Aaron Woolworth, a Candidate for the 
Gospel Ministry for Settlement, do hereby assign over 
the within written Instrument unto him . . . his 
Heirs and assigns forever, for the Consideration of 
Which reference may be had to the Covenant" between 
* News, Sept. 23, 1910. 



222 MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 

him and the Parish dated July 2, 1787. This assignment 
is dated Aug. 30, 1787, and is signed by Ebenezer White, 
John Hulbert, Ehas Halsey, Daniel Howell, Samuel 
Howell, William Rogers, Timothy Pierson, John Gelston, 
David Heges, Daniel Haines, Timothy Halsey, David Pier- 
son, Committee. 

Mr. John'E. Heartt once stated * that on one of the 
window panes in the northwest bedroom there was 
etched "W. C. B., 1744." What this may mean I do not 
know. Mr. Brown himself, so far as I know, never came 
here before 1748 and only graduated from Yale in 1747. 
We only know that he lived there, and that he sold it 
the year when he resigned and went to live on his farm 
m Scuttle Hole. It is not known who built it or when. 
(It is at present occup'ied by Charles T. Ludlow). 

Another old house is the E. G. Sayre house, east of 
the Hampton House on the main country road. This 
house was built, according to Mr. C. H. Hildreth, for 
Capt, Nathan Post and descended to his son, Capt. 
L,odowick Post, who sold it in 181 7 to John Pierson, 
who sold it in 183 1 to Uriah Sayre, and it is now owned 
by Mr. E. G. Sayre. As Captain Post was born 1748 
and died 1803, the age of the house is fixed within those 
limits. 

The Charles A. Ludlow house on Mecox Road was 
built in 1817, and contains portions of a much older one, 
said by some to have been the home of the original 
Anthony Ludlam. 

The farm next south of the Poxabogue Cemetery 
was long ago the Town Poor Farm. The tw^o houses 
near the intersection of Paul's and Halsey's Lanes, oc- 
cupied by Mr. Augustus Cook and Mr. Albert Halsey 
are both probably over 150 years old, and may be older. 
Parts of the present Cooper homestead in Mecox Road 
are over 200 years old. 

Other houses might be mentioned, but in most cases 

* News, April 1, 1910. 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 223 

the dates of building are very indefinite. Owing to a 
somewhat extraordinarily prevalent habit of moving 
houses, which seems to have held at almost all periods, 
cne is often deceived into thinking of some of them as 
old homesteads, when they have indeed been such, but 
in another place. For example, the old house on the 
northeast corner of Ocean Road and the private road 
running east to Sagg Pond, which looks as though it 
might have been there for lOO years or more, was moved 
from Sag Harbor not over 50 years ago. The frames 
of the older houses were put together with wooden pins, 
not nails, and when being moved they were partially 
taken apart, and not moved as a whole as a modern 
house is. 

Of the many mills of various sorts and for various 
purposes that there have been in and around Bridgehamp- 
ton, and of which the windmills form such a character- 
istic feature in the landscape, probably the oldest was 
the old Horse Mill which was near Swan Creek and 
which, long since gone, has left its memory in the name 
of the road leading down to it — Horse Mill Lane, t 

In an early undated record of 17 — , (probably, I think, 
between 1700 and 1710) it is noted that "Peletiah Ford- 
ham shall have liberty to sett up a windmill on ye Com- 
mons between John Mitchell and Calfe Creeke, provided 
he will pay all damage that ye mill shall doe to dum 
cretors, not damnifying highways." * Whether this 
mill was ever built or the highways ever damnified, I 
do not know. 

In 1686, Obadiah Rogers was granted the right to 
build a fulling mill on the stream at the head of Sagg 

t The old water mill, at Water Mill on Benedict's Creek lies outside the 
limits of this work. The original building was a little to the north of the 
road on which the present building fronts and was built in 1644-5 by Ed- 
ward Howell. (T. R. Vol I p. 40) . Of the three stones now incorporated 
in the wall by the stream, the oldest is said to be one of the two from the 
original mill. 

* T. R., Vol. V,p. 78. 



224 MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 

Pond, t provided he should finish building it in a year. 
Apparently he did not use his privilege, and the first 
one built there was in 1697, when it was voted that 
'Whereas Henry Pierson, James Hildreth and The- 
ophilus Howell sett up a mill upon Sagg Streame itt is 
granted by major Voate that they shall have the use of 
the said streame from this present sixt Aprill one thou- 
sand and six hundred ninety seven until the terme of 
twelve years, ffor the use of said mill they Grinding for 
the Inhabitants of this Towne when they can with con- 
veniency taking a moderate Toale or tenth partt." * 
Of this Mr. Hildreth wrote,! "I have the impression it 
did not pay very well. There was not enough fare, and 
when Sagg Pond was full they could not grind at all." 

"In the year 1712, John Wick & Co. bought Sagg 
swamp for £15, i shilling. Later Deacon Hedges 
bought the Wick swamp, and his son-in-law, John 
White, bought the farm owned by the late W. Wallace 
Plildreth, which went to the brook, so that they owned 
on both sides of the stream. I think it was they who 
raised the dam. Seventy years ago, the flume was about 
as high as the top of the road is now. The tract of 
bushes between the road and woods was covered with 
water. It was called the Mill Pond, where we used to 
skate in winter and gather lilies in summer. There was 
a fulling mill on the stream, and about a hundred years 
ago a brewery." 

The timbers of part of an old mill are still visible at times 
just south of the road on the west side of the stream 
( where it crosses Sagg Road ) , and this was Dea- 
con Hedges fulling mill. Mr. John E. Heartt also 
once spoke of an old brewery there, and stated that 
many old time bottles had been found around the site. 

Mr. Hildreth also wrote that after Pierson & Co. gave 

t T. R., Vol. II, p. 110. 
* T. R., Vol. II, p. 139. 
t News, Auff. 20, 1909. 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 225 

up the mill on Sagg stream, Pierson & Hildreth built a 
"spider legged mill" on the corner of Charles S. Rogers' 
lot by Sagg school house, which stood there a century 
ago, and that Peter Hildreth tended it at the time of 
the Revolution. It was to the wheel of this mill that 
Major Cochrane had William Russel tied up when he 
was whipped, and "Henry Squires' grandmother was a 
girl and lived near the school house and saw the whip- 
ping. She said the blood was running down to Rus- 
sel's heels." 

John Wick's windmill, which gave its name to Wind- 
mill Hill, has been mentioned in an earlier chapter. This 
stood near the big barn of Mr. William D. Halsey, and 
the depression on its site is still visible. 

It has also been stated that Kellis Pond originally 
flowed into the Bay. At the point where the outlet 
brook crossed Paul's Lane down in the hollow, there 
was a mill a hundred years ago, and also a woolen mill 
on the little stream which flows under Mecox Road, just 
west of Sunny Bank Cottage. This was owned by the 
father of Rodney Parker, the veteran of 1812, who 
worked in the mill as a boy. 

Also, about a century ago, there were three wind saw 
mills, one at Mr. Henry Edwards' place, north of Scut- 
tle Hole Road, one about fifty rods north of the track 
on the west side of Hay Ground Road, and one at the 
lower end of Sagg Main Street. The second one was 
known as "Dick's Mill," Dick being a negro who oper- 
ated it. These were a little difi^erent shape from the 
present wind mills, and all had boards instead of can- 
vas for sails, the boards being put on or taken off, de- 
pending on the strength of the wind. The saw itself 
was not circular, but worked up and down, like a jig'- 
saw. The one first mentioned was moved about forty- 
five years ago to Wainscott. but all three have long 
since disappeared. 

Another wind mill is mentioned bv Bavles in his 



226 MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 

Sketches of Suffolk County, 1874, who says that a little 
southwest of the Methodist church on the road to Sagg 
was "the agricultural machine shop of C. H. Topping. 
Besides making repairs on all kinds of agricul- 
tural machinery, he manufactures ten or twelve horse 
powers every year. The machinery contained in the 
shop is driven by a 6-horsepower steam engine, assisted 
now and then, when the elements are favorable and 
circumstances demand it, by a Hubbard patent hori- 
zontal wind-mill." 

On April 2, 1706, it was "granted to Capt. Theophilus 
Howell, Elisha Howell, Lemuel Howell and Jeremiah 
Halsey Liberty to Build a wind mill at meacoxe upon ye 
triangle commons Not Prejudicing highways." * "This 
v/ind mill stood where Howard Halsey's shop now 
stands. Afterward, there was another built near it. 
When I was a small boy 'Uncle' Stephen Norris tended 
them both. A few years later, some seventy years ago 
[written 1909], Judge Rose moved the old mill onto his 
lot south of the Bridgers place for a hay barn. The 
other was bought by Hiram Sandford & Co. and moved 
to Poxabogue. They had 200 yoke of oxen hitched to 
it. (Seventy-five years ago the larger part of the work 
on the farm was done with oxen. Some large farmers 
would have four or five yoke.) They stopped the mill 
in the street a little south of where Elisha O. Hedges 
now lives. Paul Topping then owned this place. I saw 
him come out of his shop, his white hair flying and 
swinging his smoothing plane, and order them not to 
leave the mill against his land." § 

They did so, however, and Paul Topping then brought 
suit, and so began the famous "Sagg Mill Cause," of 
which Mr. Pelletreau wrote, f "At the time when the 
windmill was moved to a place on Sagg Street . . . 

* T. R., Vol. II, p. 144. 

§ News, Aug. 20, 1909. C. H. Hildreth. 

t News, Sept. 3, 1909. 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 227 

all lands in the highways were claimed by the propri- 
etors of the undivided lands. Occasionally, they sold 
to persons land in the street opposite their premises. 
When this mill was moved, the owners obtained a grant 
from the Trustees of the Proprietors to set their mill on 
the place in question. The street was wide, and there 
were two paths, leaving a strip of land between them, on 
which they placed the mill. 

"The principle of common law is that highways are 
simply an 'easement.' The public have the right of way 
and full power to pass and repass, but the fee of the 
land belongs to the owners on either side, and each 
owns to the middle. The Proprietors never recognized 
this right, but claimed all roads as undivided lands." 

Paul Topping won his suit in the Supreme Court at 
Riverhead, and Mr. Pelletreau says that the Proprietors 
ceased to claim ownership of the highways. I have 
myself, however, heard the claim made for them that the 
fee is still theirs, and that if the town abandoned any 
highway not originally laid out on private property, but 
one orv which the Proprietors had originally allotted 
land on either side only, that the road bed of the high- 
way so abandoned would revert to the representatives 
of the Proprietors and not to the abutting property 
owners. 

In 1851, there was a steam mill built on the Tri- 
angular Commons by Major Roger A. Francis, of which 
there is a picture in the Library. This mill did not pay, 
and the building, in two sections, was moved down to 
Mecox Road, and now forms the farm house directly 
opposite the Cooper homestead, and a few yards west 
of the site of the old Chatfield house. The owner seems 
to have been of a more poetic than practical turn of 
mind, for at the end of the year he sent out the follow- 
ing rhymed advertisement to his customers: 



228 MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 

FRANCIS ANNUAL MESSAGE TO HIS FRIENDS 
AND CUSTOMERS, THE PUBLIC 

Time, the post rider of the spheres, 
Whose coursers are the winged years, 
Old Fifty-one to the goal has run, 
And backs his new steed Fifty Two. 
As on he sweeps with steady pace, 
Suppose his last steps we retrace, 
And leaving subjects more sublime, 
Make FLOUR the subject of our rhyme; 
The theme is one that may be pressed, 
But not with advantage (note the jest). 
And so, while rhyme with reason weds. 
We'll give our subject separate heads. 
Beginning, if you don't object. 
With 

OUR BUSINESS RETROSPECT. 
If the past year on a review, 
Wears, and it does, a golden hue. 
Whom else should FRANCIS thank but you; 
The stimulus your praise supplied. 
Strengthened his hope and stirred his pride. 
Sustained by a determined will. 
He never dreamed of standing still. 
And each improvement in his art. 
Was but a step from which to start, — 
The ATLANTIC MILLS of goodly size 
Which, nine months since, you saw arise, 
With store house large, and lately built. 
Can scarce, so business grows of late. 
His "troops of friends" accommodate; 
Rank upon rank, they come, and yet, 
The pressure's one he can't regret; 
The FLOUR he sells them seems to suit, 
And the whole number to a man, 
Seems to approve 

HIS BUSINESS PLAN 
It may be a good way to thrive. 
Four dollar flour to sell at five, 
But business comes to our MILL door. 
By selling that worth FIVE at FOUR. 
CASH purchases — CASH sales 
And personal care in the details 
Of all the branches in the trade, 
Are the enchanters by whose aid 
He sells his FLOUR of matchless mould. 
Cheaper than e'er such flour was sold. 
And keens a stock, the best assorted. 
Of both 

HOME GROWN AND IMPORTED 
And first comes common Superfine, 
Next is Family Flour, 
Fresh ground from wheat raised at our door; 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 229 

And then his stock in the Fancy way, 

Affords a beautiful display, 

OF EXTRA GENESEE. 

Foreign yet manufactured here, 

And what's important, not too dear; 

Then Graham, Grits and Hommony, 

Buck,Wheat, Rye Flour and Indian, 

And many other things. 

Too numerous here to mention. 

And now to start with conscience clear. 

On the bright threshold of the year. 

Francis a word would sav "aside" 

TO CUSTOMERS UNSATISFIED. 

Some, although "few and far between," 

Perchance have disappointed been, 

If so; albeit he has not heard 

That disappointment has occurred — 

He stands prepared (if proof there be), 

The oversight to remedy; 

For 'tis his rule, repeated o'er. 

To warrant all things from his store. 

And thinks no time nor pains ill-spent. 

That give a customer content. 

One theme remains — and then we're through, 

'TIS OUR PLANS FOR FIFTY-TWO. 

These plans already half mature, 

He feels new PATRONS will secure. 

Flour such as never here was made. 

He means this year to show the trade. 

Now, friends and customers, adieu — 

The season's blessings be with you. 

Long may vou live, long may you buy 

ATLANTIC FLOUR for a Christmas Pie, 

While every year at this same season. 

We'll have a dish of rhyme and reason. 

Atlantic Steam Mills, Bridg-ehampton, Jan. 1st. 1852. 

Of the three windmills in the neighborhood yet 
standing the oldest one (still in its original position',, 
and the only one now used as a mill, is that on Hay 
Ground hill. This was built in 1801 and began running 
in 1802. It was built by Gen. Abraham Rose, Capt. 
Benjamin Rogers, Nathan Topping Rogers, and Ethan 
Topping, the timber for it being cut in the north woods. 
In the 114 years the mill has been in operation, the 
millers have been: Ethan Topping; his son, Jesse Top- 
ping; his grandson, George Topping; his great grandson, 



230 MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 

George Topping, 2J, and Maltbie G. Rose, who runs it 
today.* 

The story of the one now standing on the property of 
Mr. John E. Berwind, after many moves, is as follows. f 

"This mill was erected on Sherrill Hill, Sag Harbor, 
in the year 1820, by a Mr. Beebe who ran it until 1837. 
In that year he sold it to A. T. Rose and Richard Gil- 
son,! '^ho moved it to Bridgehampton, placing it on 
what was then called 'Mill Hill,' where Halsey & Mc- 
Caslin's shops noAV stand, They then sold it to a Mr. 
Norris, who sold it to Roger Francis, who in turn 
later sold it to E. Jones Ludlow, C. H. Topping and 
Hedges Miller. They sold it to William Hand. In 
1868 it was bought by A. E. Topping, who ran it until 
1872, when he sold it to L. W. Seabury. After eight 
years of milling work, Seabury sold it in 1880 to Top- 
ping and Hildreth, who in 1882 sold it to J. A. Sanford. 
Mr. Sanford then moved it from Mill Hill to a site near 
the railroad track on the north side. Then Park Com- 
missioner Kennedy, realizing the beauty of the old mill, 
bought it of Mr. Sandford with the intention of locating 
it in Prospect Park, Brooklyn. But, much to his dis- 
appointment, he found when arranging to move it, that 
It could not be moved by railroad on account of the 
many bridges along the railroad line. This was joyous 
news for many Bridgehampton people, as they did not 
want to see it leave here. Then in 1894 it again 
changed hands, Oliver Osborn being the purchaser. 

"In 1895 a company of 14 persons was formed, which 
was called the Bridgehampton Milling Co., which pur- 
chased the mill and ran it up to a few years ago, when 
the more modern methods of grinding were becoming 

* I am indebted for the above information to Mr. A. M. Cook. 
t News. Sept. 25. 1915. 

X When it stood in Sag Harbor, it was the custom whenever a 
homeward bound ship was sighted, to raise a flag on this mill to 
notify the people, hence the old saying hereabouts, "flag on the mill, 
ship on the bay." 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 231 

more generally used. The manager of this company 
was John C. Sayre. For a number of years it had a 
bolter and made flour, but during later years it only 
ground grains for feeding. William Schellinger was 
the genial old miller and was on hand daily attending 
to business. He was never happier than when those 
big old mill arms were whirling around. 

"The same old tolling dish that was put in the mill 
Vv'hen it was built was in use until about ten years ago. 
The tolling dish held one-tenth of a bushel, which was 
the miller's fee for grinding. The mill was always in 
good working order, and was a profitable investment 
for its many owners. 

"About a year ago, the Rev. Robert Davis purchased 
the mill from the Bridgehampton Milling Co., and ex- 
pected to move it to his property, where the picturesque 
eld building would be preserved, but ]\Ir. John E. Ber- 
v.'ind, who also liked the old mill, purchased it from Mr. 
Davis, and the mill will again start on another journey 
to the Berwind place [where it now stands]." 

While the third mill, that at Wainscott, is a little out- 
side of the territory supposedly covered by this book 
(which has already proved somewhat elastic), it is so 
familiar to Bridgehampton people that I here preserve 
a short article upon it, written by Mr. W, S. Pelletreau 
in the News of Oct. 30, 191 5. 

"This mill was originally built on the west side of 
Wind Mill Lane or the west street, of Southampton 
village, a little ways south of the North Sea Road. At 
-this point there was an old fort built during the Revolu- 
tion and on its site were erected three wind mills. One 
Was blown down, another was burned down in 1812, 
and the wind mill now under consideration was built on 
the same site in 1813. The owners were Jeremiah 
Jagger and Obadiah Foster, and the cost was $304. As 
we were born in a house not very far distant, this mill 
is one of the recollections of our early childhood. The 



232 MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDOEHAMPTON 

miller at that time was Obadiah Howell, well known. a8r 
' Unde Oby.' ; About a quarter of a mile south of it, at 
the junction of Hill Street and 'Windmill Lane, was an-J 
other milli standing on Mill Hill and for many 
years a very conspicuous feature of the latidscape. This 
mill'Was owned by Capt. Barney R. Green in 1849, ^^"'^^ 
he conceived the idea of purchasing the north mill and; 
hsivin^g it r«fttoyed to^Mill Hill by the side of the other 
and having one miller tend both. This was done about 
1850. The miller was ^Richard Dunster. When the 
wind, was regular, it was all well enough, but when the 
wind was 'flawey' or blew a gale, it was amusing to see 
the miller running like a shuttle to and from each mill. 
It was soon found to be impracticable, and about 1852 
Captain Green sold the mill to parties from Wainscott, 
cmd it Was moved to that place." 

These mills still stand to remind us of a day and a 
mode of life now passed forever, but there was demol- 
ished a few years ago another relic of the past which, 
though long outgrown in usefulness, spoke also of a 
most important and interesting chapter in country life, 
now longi passed. That was the old toll gate and house, 
about halfway between Bridgehampton and Sag Harbor. 

In the early part of the last century, country roads, 
to say nothing of city pavements, were indescribably 
bad, and there was a sudden and enormous develop- 
ment in the formation of Turnpike and Toll Bridge 
companies, which built roads and bridges, charging toll 
to those' who travelled over them, much as a railroad 
charges fare. In fact, the craze for building them was 
much like the railway building mania of a half century 
or so later. In 1813, in New York state alone, it was 
stated that charters for Turnpikes and Toll Bridges had 
been taken out by private companies, capitalized at the 
then huge sum of $8,067,000. Of the Turnpike com- 
panies there were 135, authorized to place about 450 
toll gates and to build 4.500 miles of road. .A Gazetteer 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 233 

of that year states that "while the people have been 
progressively learning that too many turnpike com- 
panies were formed, they have much improved the 
country roads by copying the turnpike method of con- 
struction. And if evils or inconveniences have been 
found in the speculating extent of the turnpike system, 
that system has also done much good; and the evils bid 
fiiir to work their own remedy, in this case, though they 
niay not end here. The rage for speculation, that blew 
up the turnpike bubble and burst it, is now transferred 
to manufactures.^-' 

The introduction of the turnpike and toll system on 
Long- Island, was much opposed at first,, owing to the 
dislike of seeing, the roads fenced up and a fee enacted 
for the use of a public highway, but the improved con- 
dition of the roads, finally overcame prejudice, and many 
turnpikes were established. One of these was the "Bull 
Head Turnpike Co.," whose road ran from Sag Harbor 
to Bridgehampton and was laid out under legislative 
charter about 1840. This compalny wa^ capitalized at 
$5,600 (shares $25 each) and paid a small return' on the 
capital invested until the railroad was built to the Har- 
tjor in 1881, when it rapidly went from bad to worse, 
and for years the road was- in a terrible condition, as it 
did not pay the conipany to maintain it. On the 19th 
of August, 1905, the toll gate was thrown open by court 
order on complaint regarding its condition being made 
by the; Commissioner of Highways. The owners of 
the company (Mr. George Kiernan, of Sag Harbor, is 
said to have owned the controllmg interest) realized' the 
situation and were perfectly willing to dispose of the 
charter for a nominal sum. In ig(y6 iiie Turnpike was 
taken over by the Town, and the old toll gates, the fast 
in the state of New York, wei"e removed. In 1909 the 
toll house was destroyed by fire, and so the toll system 
disappeared from the state, something more than a 
century after the wild speculation of its early days. 



CHAPTER XI 

WRECKS, THE OLD CANNON AND PIRATE GOLD 

It has been said that when the old saihng vessels gave 
place to steam that romance fled the seas for good and 
all. However that may be, and I scarcely think ro- 
mance to be so easily frightened ofif, the change did take 
much from the interest as well as the perils of the Long 
Island beaches. In the old days, when all ships were 
driven by the wind alone and the wind blew whither it 
listed, the dangers of shoals and a lea shore were ever 
present, as the rotting beams of many a good ship bur- 
ied in the sand and waters off our beaches testify. 

Not only were wrecks far more frequent — in fact, a 
possibility worth watching for in almost any storm — 
but until two generations ago there was no organized 
life saving service, all rescues being made by volunteer 
crews. About the middle of the last century, the Hu- 
mane Society established a permanent and organized 
service, and they erected a house opposite the present 
station,* but even then only the keeper received a salary 
($200 per annum), the crew remaining as volunteers 
and unpaid until taken over by the Federal Govern- 
ment in 1872. At that time Samuel Hildreth was 
keeper but he resigned in a few months, since when the 

*This was later moved to near Peter's Pond, Sagg. 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 235 

captains have been Baldwin Cook, 1872-1886, John N. 
Hedges, April 1, 1886-Mar. 1, 1915, E. F. Stephens, Mar. 
1-12, 1915 (retired), Edward Arnold from that date to 
the present time. In January, 1915, the service was 
changed to the "Coast Guard," forming part of the Rev- 
enue Cutter, instead of the Civil, service.* 

In the early days, the sea was the one great source of 
interest to the people, the vagaries and uncertainties of 
which could never be foretold. It was, moreover, their 
great and, for long, their only highway over which the 
ships forever came and went, drawing their minds out, 
as subtly as the wireless of today, to think of strange 
peoples and the far corners of the earth. Ships laden 
with slaves from Africa, with wines from Spain and 
Portugal, with silks from China or spices from the Isles 
of the East, passed by in the sight of men ploughing 
their fields in these villages, their white sails flashing 
against the blue of sea and sky, or perhaps in the black- 
ness of night, amid the infernal howling of the storm 
and crashing of the surf, would be driven headlong on 
the shore. 

"Every garret," wrote Mrs. White of Southampton, 
speaking of the time of her childhood and earlier, J 
"held its spy-glass on a way-high handy beam, and 
every scuttle was a look out frequently visited. If any- 
thing unusual was sighted along shore — a ship in peril 
or a whale — the family horn was blown, which signal 

*At present men over 64 years of age, or after 30 years in the 
service, receive a pension of % of the salary they were receiving at 
the time of retirement. The crew is composed of six men, serving 
from Aug. 1 to June 1. Enlistment requirements are, age 18-45, 
ability to read and write, and expertness in swimming. Since the 
beginning of the service here no lives have been lost on any wreck 
except the Circassian, when 28 were drowned. One life saver, 
Charles H. Church, has lost his life, and he was drowned about 
4.30 a. m., while trying to cross Mecox seapoose in December, 1903. 
The bay was full of floating ice. One row lock was picked up near 
the seapoose, the boat, capsized and self-anchored, on the bar, and 
one oar on the beach at Quogue. 

J Mrs. E. P. White, News, Sept. 11, 1914, which contained much 
information on wrecks. 



236 MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 

the next neighbor passed on. In this way a rally was 
raised and the beach soon peopled with volunteers 
ready for any emergency. 

"Well we remember the old pewter horn, which, with 
his gun, hung high in grandfather's kitchen, too high 
indeed for the meddling of small intruders. We re- 
member, too, as a great favor being allowed to have a 
try at blowing it, but as the horn was 4 feet long, and 
its blow the equal of its size, it required more knack 
than our youthful propensities in that line could muster. 
At the sound of the rally, every man left his plow or his 
trowel, his shop or his sermon, as we do today at the 
sound of the fire siren, and made for the beach." 

I shall tell here only of the wrecks occurring within a 
few miles up and down our beach, of the Sylph, of the 
Gunpowder Ship, of the Money, Emigrant, Lumber, 
and Sugar Ships, of the Wine Brig, of the Currant, 
Tree, Salt, Peanut Ships, and other ill-fated craft. 

The Sylph was a British sloop-of-war, 22 guns, com- 
manded by Capt. Henry Dickens, with 12 officers and 
121 men. She had been one of the ships actively em- 
ployed in the Sound during the War of 1812, and was 
cruising ofif our shore here when, losing her reckoning 
in a snow storm, she went ashore olY Shinnecock Point 
on the night of Jan. 16-17, 1815. Early in the morning 
Nathan White of Wickapogue discovered her, gave the 
alarm, and soon the volunteer rescuers were gathered 
on the beach. It was still snowing furiously, the wind 
blowing a gale, while the surf was high and the temper- 
ature bitterly low. It seemed impossiljle to get a boat 
through the surf, but by afternoon it was evident that 
the sloop was fast breaking up. Finally a life boat was 
manned and succeeded in reaching the vessel which had 
capsized, with only one officer and five men still cling- 
ing to her, the others having all perished. The son of 
one of the eye witnesses of the tragedy said that his 
father used to tell of how he saw a spar with men lashed 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 237 

to it, coming ashore through the breakers with twelve 
pair of frozen legs sticking up in the air. 

Of the men who made the daring rescue only two 
names are preserved to us, Sylvanus Raynor and Eph- 
raim White. The officer and men were brought ashore 
in safety and kindly treated, in spite of their having so 
lately been deadly enemies, and Mr. Wm. Barclay Par- 
sons, the New York engineer is a grandson of the Eng- 
lish of^cer saved that day. The wTeck is commem- 
orated by a tablet in St. Andrew's Dune Church, South- 
ampton, the border of the tablet and the wheel above it 
being made from the red cedar of the vessel. Many 
fence posts in Southampton are also made of the same 
wood, as was also the horseblock at Mrs. Henry Mer- 
rick's. A book, with Capt. Dickens' name on the fly 
leaf is also preserved, and his old leather covered trunk 
with a brass plate on top inscribed "Capt. Henry Dick- 
ens, 34th Regiment." is in the home of Mrs. Hubert 
\A^hite. 

The most interesting relic to Bridgehampton, how- 
ever, is the old cannon, which I first remember as it 
stood years ago on Mr. Worth's* lawn, at what is now 
Mr. Bradley's. Mr. C. H. Hildreth once wrote an ac- 
count of this historic cannon from which I quote : 
(News. Oct. 14, 1910.) 

"Stephen Sayre. the grandfather of our late friend 
Stephen Sayre, who lived on the Hampton House cor- 
ner, got one of the Sylph's guns and brought it to 
Bridgehampton. Its home was for many years on the 
Triangular Commons, about where Francis McCaslin's 
shop now stands. They used to cart it around the par- 
ish when they wanted to serenade newly married 

*Mr. T. Oscar Worth (June 29, 1860- Aug. 23, 1907) was the son 
of Capt. Theron B. Worth of Peconic who commanded several 
whaling vessels. He married Miss Martha Huntting, daughter of 
Capt. James Huntting. The name of his place on Ocean Road (now 
Mr. Bradley's) "Konohasset" was that of one of his father's ves- 
sels lost in the Pacific in 1846. 



238 MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 

couples, but it always came back to its old place of resi- 
dence on the hill. 

"My first recollection of the old gun was about sev- 
enty five years ago [written 1910]. I went to Sunday 
School at the Methodist Church, which at that time 
stood between St. Ann's property and Mr. Chester's 
store. After school was out we boys went out on the 
Commons to the old gun. It lay across a log pointing 
to the east and had a big ramrod sticking from the 
muzzle about three feet. Willie Irwin, a large boy, 
raised it up by this ramrod to show us small boys how 
strong he was. He looked as if he thought himself 
'some pumpkins.' 

"On the Fourth of July, as old Sol rose in the east, 
the old gun would sound forth its greetings and when 
he sank in the west, she bid him good bye. 

"When the election returns came in, the victorious 
party showed its joy jjy drinking rum and burning pow- 
der. But the most hilarious times the old gun knew 
were when it went to congratulate the newly married. 
I never trained in the Calithumpian band, but from all 
reports they must have had pretty noisy and boisterous 
times. The wonder is that they never got killed or hurt. 
They used to put a big charge of powder in the gun and 
then pound her full of turf to the muzzle, put a slow 
match to it, get away and watch her turn a somersault. 

"Twice that I know of the old cannon came to Wain- 
scott — when James Topping was married and Charles 
W. Strong brought his wife home. The Sagg boys 
brought the gun and the Wainscott boys had a lot of tar 
balls made up so that they had pretty noisy times. The 
noise was heard over at Greenport where they thought 
the Alabama was bombarding the south side of the 
Island. 

"But the biggest time of all according to reports was 
when Capt. Charles A. Pierson was married. He had 
always set the boys on and furnished them with powder, 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMFTON 239 

SO they thought he was deserving to be paid up. They 
got the old gun so near the house that some forty 
panes of glass were broken and other damage done. 

"I never was present at the firing of the old cannon 
but once. When the War of the Rebellion was over 
there was a celebration in Bridgehampton. I had about 
half a keg of blasting powder which I took down to 
help out and this, in addition to that procured at the 
stores, provided quite a celebration. Albert Topping 
was gunner. He had been in the navy and did things 
ship shape. 

"The old gun has been spiked a number of times: 
folks would get tired of hearing it, or fearing some one 
would get hurt, would go for it with a hammer and 
spike. The boys would take it to Uncle Billy Jones and 
he would put it under his press drill, which was a big 
stick of timber which hoisted with a tackle and low- 
ered down onto the drill, and so they would drill out 
the spike. One night the boys were firing the cannon 
on the hill and Capt. Huntting's wife was sick. Every 
time the old gun went off it would give Mrs. Huntting 
a start. Capt. Huntting got a big rat tail file and a 
sledge hammer and went for the old gun. He drove 
the file into the touch hole and broke it ofif and the old 
cannon was silent for quite a while, as Uncle Billy's 
drill would not touch the file. After a while they drilled 
a new touch hole and the gun was in commission again. 
Afterward Mr. Esterbrook got the gun and had it 
mounted on wheels on his lawn; then Mr. Worth had 
it down at his place. 

"Quite a number of years ago some one at Southamp- 
ton borrowed it, and word came that they had burst it. 
I had a talk with John Sayre at the celebration here on 
the 4th of July and told him as he was a blacksmith he 
might get the old gun if it was not too badly shattered 
and bind the pieces together with bands of iron and 
place it on exhibition in Bridgehampton. Afterward he 



240 MEMORIALS OF OLD BKIDGEHAMFTON 

told me he had' found it and the muzzle part of it was 
blown to pieces, but the breech part back of the trun- 
nions was all sound and he was going to get it. He says 
a man by the name of Bennett fired it off when it burst. 
He touched it off and ran, and some of the boys cried 
out 'She's busted!' Bennett turned around, and the 
pieces up in the air looked like a flock of black birds, he 
afterwards explained." 

In spite of rumors to the contrary, and sundry hair- 
breadth escapes, the old cannon is still on hand and I 
have been looking at it again today. Capt. Huntting's 
file was blown out, and there are two touch holes, but 
the old gun is still in service and now beginning its sec- 
ond century as the plaything of the village. 

The year after the Sylph was wrecked, came the 
''Gunpowder Ship," which took fire just off Southamp- 
ton beach. She was abandoned by the captain and 
crew, who rowed ashore about 2.30 in the afternoon. 
She had on board 900 kegs of gunpowder belonging to 
the Government, and just as the small boat reached the 
shore, the ship blew up with a terrific explosion which 
carried the ship's main chain over on to Halsey's Neck.* 
The cargo consisted also of woolens which were. washed 
up everywhere along the beach and shopping for under- 
clothing and mittens that winter was a simple matter. 

In January, 1820, driven on shore by a violent storm, 
the merchant vessel Helen bound from France to New 
York, was wrecked in less than a hundred miles of her 
destination, the captain, oflicers and passengers all be- 
ing lost, but the crew at the forecastle end were all 
saved. This wreck is commemorated. by a stone in the 
North End Burying Ground, Southampton, which 
reads: "Sacred to the Memory of Major Robert 
Sterry, who was shipwrecked and ,lost with the ship 
Helen. Jan. 17, 1820, aged 37 years,'' 

*I may explain for the benefit of those unacquainted with our 
local topography that Halsey's Neck is a geographical and not an 
anatomical term! 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMFTON 241 

Of all the wrecks, the most mysterious was that of 
the "Money Ship," of which accounts dififer somewhat, 
but there is enough of mystery to suit all versions. 
Some years ago, Mr. Wm. D. Halsey, in order to secure 
and preserve as accurate a one as possible, requested the 
Hon. James Henry Pierson, then a very old man, to note 
down the story as he was familiar with it when young, 
which he did. The manuscript reads as follows : 

"One day late in the autumn of the year 1816,* a 
strange craft was observed off Southampton. She was 
quite unlike in build and rig the many vessels that 
passed almost daily along the coast. There had been a 
hard storm, in which it was evident the vessel had 
fared badly. The next day she was in a new position 
and it was plain to those watching from the shore that 
she was adrift and probably abandoned. It was decided 
that if the surf went down by the next morning and 
the vessel was still in sight, to go ofif to her, but when 
morning came, the vessel was ashore opposite Shinne- 
cock Bay, about two miles west of the village of South- 
ampton. Those who first reached her % found a de- 
serted ship, without name or cargo, with sails half 
furled, and cabin furniture, articles of clothing and food 
scattered about as if she had been abandoned in great 
haste. No records or papers could be found which 
might have given some clue as to the port from which 
she sailed or her destination. 

"The Wrecking Masterf for the district took charge 
of the vessel, stripped her of sails, rigging and whatever 
could be removed, which was all carted to the village 
and deposited in the then Tavern lot on Main Street 
(now the property of Mr. Samuel L. Parrish), and was 

*Mrs. White says in her account 1821. 

J Mrs. White says these were Mike Herman, Steven Sayre, and 
Chris. Jagger. 

fThis was a Gov't, official who took charge of any vessels that 
came ashore until claimed by the owner, or if not claimed, he 
would sell vessel and cargo. 



242 MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMFTON 

duly advertised and sold. On the day of the sale, a by- 
stander found wedged tightly in a dead-eye a Spanish 
dollar. It was passed around from hand to hand, and 
other dead-eyes, in fact the whole wreckage, was scrut- 
inized with care, but no more dollars found, and many 
jests were made at the expense of the lucky finder and 
of the unknown sailor who was supposed to have 
chosen this strange hiding place for his money. The 
following day the hull was sold on the beach where it 
lay. One of the men at the sale had, on his way up the 
beach, picked up a slender piece of wreckage, which he 
used as a staff or cane. While on the ship he idly 
dropped the stick down one of the pumps. It struck 
upon the sand (which quickly fills every part of a 
wreck), and when he withdrew it, wedged in a split in 
its end was a Spanish dollar. This unexpected find, 
also in so strange a place, was followed by more jests 
and guesses, and many more thrusts were made with 
the stick, but no more dollars brought up. 

"The mystery of the wreck, and the finding of the 
dollars made a fruitful topic of discussion on the street, 
and in the store and tavern* for many days. The wreck 
was purchased by a company formed for the purpose, 
and was left to be broken up for the material it con- 
tained, at a more leisure season. This was the way 
wrecks were disposed of, and many a barn yard and 
pightle fence in Southampton and in fact all over the 
southern coast of Long Island was made wholly or in 
part of the ribs and planks of ships that had sailed far 
and wide and spread their sails over many seas, and 
brought rich cargoes from strange and distant lands. 

"Occasionally in the next few weeks a lone fisherman 
or hunter would see the wreck in passing, or if the tide 
was down, go on board, but little heed or attention was 
given to it. A young Southampton whaleman [Capt. 

*The old tavern in Southampton was "The Ship and Whale," and 
the last vestige of it was torn down in 1915. 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMFTON 243 

Henry Green] returning from a voyage soon after this 
occurrence, took a day up the beach with a companion 
gunning, and finding himself near the wreck, curiosity 
led him to go on board. The ship lay head on the beach 
with her hull sharply inclined toward the sea. The 
waves had broken in the stern so that in storms they 
would run high up the cabin floor, carrying with them 
sand and shells to be deposited in every nook and 
cranny of the wreck. On the cabin floor, clean at that 
time, in plain view, lay a silver dollar. The discovery 
did not excite the interest of the finder so much at the 
time, but when he had returned to his home and heard 
of the other dollars, he thought it over and was much 
puzzled. He decided to investigate further and the 
next night, providing himself with one of the old per- 
forated tin lanterns used in those days (these were 
simply a cylinder of tin or sheet iron with perforations 
to allow the light to filter through), a candle and a 
tinder box, he and his comrade started for the wreck. 

*'The beach is a lonely place on a dark night and a 
wreck is full of strange and ghostly sounds. His com- 
rade was half-hearted and inclined to turn back, but the 
young whaler was not easily frightened or deterred 
from an undertaking. When they reached the wreck 
they lighted the lantern, and made directly for the 
cabin. The tide was down but occasionally a wave, 
higher than the others, would run up on the floor. For 
a time their search was unrewarded, and becoming 
somewhat discouraged they were about to leave the 
wreck and go home when one of them glancing up over 
his head saw projecting from the low wooden ceiling, 
which had split and opened, the edge of a silver dollar. 
Giving the lantern to his comrade and using his jack- 
knife to enlarge the opening, he succeeded in getting a 
firm hold of the piece of ceiling and pulled it from its 
place. As he did so, down upon his head came a shower 
of dollars. In his excitement, his comrade dropped the 



244 MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 

lantern, and dollars and lantern rolled together into the 
sea. Still, the shower of dollars was falling and, drop- 
ping instantly upon the fioor, he extended his arms and 
stopped many of them. They were now in total dark- 
ness and there was nothing to do but gather up what 
they had saved as best they could and give up the search 
for that night. More trips were made and dollars found 
in other places, but the secret was well kept and no one 
ever knew just how much money was obtained.* 

"With the beginning of winter a hard storm broke up 
the wreck, and it soon became known that she must 
ha\'e had money aboard, for many dollars were found in 
the sand and in the fragments of the ship. Farmers 
came with their teams and ploughed the beach, one man 
finding sixty dollars in one day, and for many years 
'Beach Dollars' would occasionaly be found. f 

"The late Edward Richard Shaw of Bellport and New 
York, a well known educator and scholar was fond of 
gathering up the legends and traditions of the beaches 
and weaving them into little stories. He published a 
])ook which he called 'The Pot of Gold : A Story of 
Fire Island Beach.' One of the tales told in this 
charming little book, is of a strange ship which ap- 
peared one day off Bellport. 

"In answer to a pre-arranged signal from the shore, 
she landed, after nightfall, bags and barrels of money 
and plunder, to be buried later among the sand dunes. 
An approaching storm and a fierce quarrel among the 
sailors over the division of the booty, frustrated their 

*Mrs. White wrote (News): "It was discovered that a quantity 
of silver dollars were still concealed between her planks and her 
ceiling. Those who had purchased the ship contended that the 
money belonged to them, but much of it sifted through the rifts 
of the old hull and became imbedded in the sands. It was said the 
most the owners ever got out of her were 486 of these precious 
dollars, and none, with one exception, was ever made rich by the 
find, though for years the beach was raked. * * * Henry 
Green is said to have obtained 500 of the treasure." 

t One was picked up a few years ago by Charles Carter of South- 
ampton dated 1802. 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMFTON 245 

plans before they were completed, and led to their hur- 
ried abandonment of the ship, which was left to drift 
about the sport of wind and waves. A few days later, 
this tale relates, she came ashore at Southampton and 
was the 'Money Ship' of our story. The origin and 
history of the Money Ship will always remain a mys- 
tery. Southampton whalemen, who were boys at that 
time, but who afterward became familiar with ships of 
many countries, agreed that she resembled in build and 
rig- the vessels sailed along the Spanish Main, going oc- 
casionally to the West Indies or to the coast of Africa 
for slaves. Revolutions were common, then as now, in 
South American states and it was not unusual for a rich 
merchant to be compelled to flee from his country, tak- 
ing his fortune with him, which was apt to be in gold or 
silver. Whether this ship had been on such an errand 
and had been captured from her owner, either by his 
own mutinous crew or by others, or whether she was a 
pirate or a slaver will probably never be known." 

Before leaving the story of the Money Ship, I will 
here give from Mrs. White's article, the tale as it comes 
from Patchogue where "the ship was first seen practic- 
ally dismantled and helplessly drifting; the boats had 
left the ship and were making for shore in a dangerous 
surf. The set of the breakers was such that landing 
was so extremely difficult that the boats were upset and 
only one man and a small boy were saved. \\'hen the 
bodies of the men who were drowned were washed 
ashore, it was discovered they were heavy with Spanish 
dollars, which they had strapped in bags about their 
])ersons. 

"The rescued man, John Sloane by name, proved to 
be the Master of the vessel and the story he told of the 
l)rig has been handed down in the Jones family who 
were living on the beach at that time, and with whom 
he made his home for several years after his rescue. 
His storv as pri/e master of the l)rig was this: He was 



246 MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMFTON 

placed in charge of her after her capture by a Mexican 
war vessel from the Spainards, and his orders were to 
take her to New York, where she was to have been 
fitted out as a privateer under the Mexican flag. He 
said the treasure was artfully concealed, but discovered 
by one of the crew when ofif Cape Hatteras. When the 
storm arose and the vessel so badly battered that aband- 
onment seemed necessary, the silver money was di- 
vided among the crew, while the more valuable gold 
and jewels were packed in a big portmanteau, which he 
intended to account for, if saved, to the Mexican author- 
ities. The portmanteau was lost and Sloane escaped 
with his life." This was the vessel which came ashore 
at Southampton the story continues. 

Not long after the Money Ship was wrecked, the 
Susan, an Irish emigrant ship came ashore, all on board 
being saved and proceeding to New York by stage 
coach. 

In 1842 was wrecked the Louis Phillippe, a French 
ship from Bordeaux, on the beach at Mecox. Although 
no lives were lost, and the ship was saved by the wreck- 
ers, it is of special interest to us for the memorials which 
it left scattered all over our countryside. Part of her 
cargo consisted of French trees and shrubs of many var- 
ieties. These being on top were naturally thrown over- 
board first when it became necessary to lighten the ship, 
and after drifting ashore were planted by the people, 
and many gardens here and at Southampton and Sag 
Harbor still have Louis Phillippe roses, laburnums, 
beeches and chestnuts. 

In 1855 the Robert, bound from London came ashore 
ofif Wickapogue with 1000 casks of Madeira wine, which 
were saved and reshipped from Sag Harbor. At least 
600 of them were, the remaining 400 having been so 
thoroughly saved that they could not be found, so tra- 
dition relates. 

The Solieitor of Hull, v.recked of¥ Old Town about 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMFTON 247 

1860 was the "Currant Ship," so called because of the 
vast quantities of currants with which, as her cargo, she 
strewed the beach. To the same period belong the 
"Sugar Ship," which was saved, the "Lumber Ship" 
which sank with her cargo of green wood, and the 
Hattie C. White, loaded with flag stones which was also 
lost. In 1868 the Bniily B. Sonder, from the Mediter- 
ranean loaded with fruit, broke up on the Southampton 
beach, and her mast was raised as a flag pole where the 
Library now stands in that village. 

Another wreck of the early 60's was the Mesopotami 
from Spain, a double decker with a miscellaneous cargo, 
but entirely loaded between decks with bags of peanuts. 
Never before or since, here or elsewhere, probably, have 
the small boys had such a peanut feast for the mere 
picking. There were enough to last all winter and it is 
said every attic was stored with them. On Dec. 6, 1871, 
the brig William Creevy grounded on the bar, and the 
vessel and cargo (salt) were a total loss. 

On December 11, 1876, near midnight, the Circassian 
was seen on the bar ofif Mecox. Although the life boat 
belonging to the station was unfortunately on exhibi- 
tion in Philadelphia at the time, an old boat was used 
and the crew all saved. As it chanced, the Circassian 
had herself rescued the day before the crew from an- 
other vessel, the Heath Park, so there were 42 men on 
board. These with the exception of the officers, carpen- 
ters and apprentices of the Circassian were sent on to 
New York, the latter remaining while the wreckers 
were working to save the vessel. Toward the end of 
the month, they went on board with a crew of Shinne- 
cock Indians, in the hope of getting the vessel off with 
the tide, but a storm came up, the vessel broke in half, 
and of the 32 on board 28 lost their lives, including 10 to 
15 Indians, which, as has been stated in a previous chap- 
ter, was the final death blow to the Shinnecock Tribe. 
The second wreck occurred on Dec. 30th and the bodies 



248 MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 

were found along the beach as far east as Montauk. In 
an old scrap book,* I have found the following poem on 
the su])ject of this wreck, which appeared in The Chris- 
tian Intelligencer a little over 20 years ago. The author, 
Mrs. E. T. Corbett, wrongly dates the wreck as of its 
first coming ashore. 

THE WRECK OF THE CIRCASSIAN 

(OfT Bridgehampton, L. I., December, 1876) 

No gleam of light in the shrouded heaven — 
No hope, no help, from the nearing land — 
The ship flies on by the storm fiend driven, 
wSwift to her doom on the fatal strand. 

On, and still on — mad waves pursuing — 
Surging shoreward, a pitiless train, 
They climb and whelm her with fierce undoing, 
She reels and staggers as smit with pain. 

Closer — closer — she comes, and nearer — 
Close to the watchers and near to death ! 
Hist ! over the tempest, louder, clearer, 
A song is swelling — aye! hold your breath! 

Wait and listen! a score of voices 
Drowns the thunder of wind and wave — 
AA'ith a jubilant ring, as if each rejoices. 
The singers shout as they near the grave. 

Strong men and brave with the wreckers' daring, 
Knowing their danger, facing their doom. 
Divinest courage their souls upbearing. 
They send us a token through midnight gloom. 

*This scrap book, from which I derived much information, was 
loaned to me by Mr. E. Jones Hildreth. A very full account of this 
wreck constitutes Chapter I of "Heroes of the Storm" by W. D. 
O'Connor. (Houghton, Mifflin & Co.) 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 249 

We catch the chorus — 'tis "Glory! Glory!" 
And "Hallelujah" — we hear no more. 
But who can doubt that the old sweet story 
Was only the theme that went before? 



Lashed to the mast, they waited, singing! 
Not a voice that falters with doubt or fear, 
And evermore on the wild night ringing 
"Hallelujah! Glory!" came floating clear. 

Louder and louder the sullen thunder 

Of rolling breakers— still sang they on — 

Then the staunch ship parted — the mast went under — 

"Hallelujah! Glory!" and all was gone. 

Swept down to death in that fierce abysm — 
Lost with the men they died to save — 
We call them brothers — the sea their chrism — 
And the "pale faces" weep o'er the red men's grave. 

In February, 1874, off Old Town, was wrecked the 
French ship Alexandre le Valley (so called) laden with 
ale, porter, wine, potash and paper rags. The officers 
and crew were all saved and the ship herself did not go 
to pieces for a long time, six months' work being wasted 
in an effort to save her. Finally she was abandoned, 
and at low tide her timbers can still be seen. Mrs. 
White said of her, "Some of her cargo found its way to 
the cellars of our villagers and even now, on rare oc- 
casions, an inquiry as to the origin of some choice 
brand of 'good cheer' meets with the response 'Le Val- 
ley.' " 

In 1878, there were two wrecks — the schooner 
Annie C. Cook, loaded with salt, coming ashore off 
Shinnecock, (a total loss), and the Loretta Fish, which 
came ashore just east of Sagg Lane. This vessel was 



250 MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 

also a total loss, but her cargo of hard pine, belonging 
to the Government was saved. The crews of both ves- 
sels were also rescued, of the latter by means of the 
breeches buoy. 

Some years later the Licsie, of the Vanderbilt Line, 
came ashore in a fog off Mecox, while en route for Liv- 
erpool loaded with wheat and a hundred head of cattle. 
The latter all swam ashore, were driven up to the rail- 
road station and shipped back to New York, the ship 
herself being saved by the wreckers some days later and 
continuing her voyage, the crew having been rescued 
from shore in life boats. 

On the night of April 7, 1894, the Benjamin B. Church 
struck the bar directly off Mecox Station and the crew, 
consisting of 8 Portugese and a fox terrier were saved 
by the life savers, who also rescued a Maltese cat next 
day. The vessel went to pieces and was a total loss. 

In August of the same year, off the Southampton 
beach occurred the double tragedy of the steamer 
Panther and coal barge Lykens Valley. The steamer 
foundered and sank in a storm, two miles off shore, and 
the barge drifted on to the bar and was broken to 
pieces. Eighteen lives were lost. 

vSince then two ships have come ashore ofT Mecox, the 
John K. Souther, and the full rigged ship Otto (1896). In 
both cases the crews were rescued and the ships later 
able to resume their voyage. Another ship to come 
ashore off Mecox was a Lloyd liner, which had drifted 
bottom up all the way from Cape Horn, where she had 
capsized with the loss of all on board. 

Curiously enough, while I was writing this chapter, 
there came ashore in the fog early on the morning of 
July 22 (1916), a four masted iron bark, the Clan Gal- 
braith, 2168 tons, 282 feet long, Capt. A. E. Olsen. She 
crossed the bar on a very high tide and did not strike 
until she hit hard right on the beach, off Wickapogue. 
There she remained — at low tide completely "high and 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 251 

dry" — until at last successfully pulled off by the wreck- 
ing tug on the morning of August 4. 

Considering the scarcity of balloons, it is an odd 
coincidence that there should have been two wrecked 
off our beach at Mecox. The following is from the 
News of Aug. 28, 1908. 

"While on the beach, Monday afternoon about 2 
o'clock, James Hildreth discovered a hugh balloon sail- 
ing across Mecox Bay before the stiff northeast breeze 
then blowing. It appeared to be about a mile and a half 
above the earth and was headed straight for the open 
ocean. * * * From bottom of basket to the top of 
bag was fully 100 feet high. As it passed over the beach 
it dipped once or twice and gradually settled until, 
when 2^ miles from shore, it fell into the water. Be- 
sides Mr. Hildreth there was but one other man on the 
beach at the time, James Early of Sag Harbor, and he 
had a sprained wrist. The two as quickly as possible 
launched a surf boat and rowed to the aid of anyone 
who might be in the water. Before they were able to 
reach the spot, the balloon sank out of sight. For some 
time they rowed about the place but nothing came to 
the surface except a few bits of cotton waste. The 
water was covered with a thick oily paste. As we go 
to press, we learn that the balloon came from Pittsfield. 
Mass., where a County Fair was being held. The bal- 
loon was a feature and spectators were asked to make 
the ascent. One young lady consented to do so, and 
entered the car, which was being held by ropes. As she 
did so the ropes broke and the balloon sailed away. She 
must have fainted and gone down with the balloon into 
the ocean." 

This article brought to somebody's mind the earlier 
and less tragic wreck of a half century before, and I 
take the following extract from another article in the 
next issue of the News. 

"On a bright summer's day 54 years ago [1854], a 



252 MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 

small boy, who went by the name of 'Mike Crow,' came 
rushing into the house of his employer, J. Lawrence 
Cook, and excitedly called 'Oh ! Mr. Lawrence, come 
quick, there's a hay stack going- over the house!' Mr. 
Cook hurriedly investigated and saw an immense bal- 
loon passing over and out to sea, where it fell into the 
water. Lafayette Seabury with a crew of men, was 
fishing ofT Mecox at the time, and as quickly as possible 
started to aid the occupants of the car, two men and a 
dog. Before they reached the party, however, a boat 
was put off by Robert Halsey, and brought them 
ashore." 

The above account of some of the wrecks in the vi- 
cinity is. I think, not wholly complete, and takes no ac- 
count of those occurring across the line in East Hamp- 
ton Town, or around Montauk, of which there have 
been many. Nor can more than mention be made of the 
heavy toll which the sea has taken of Bridgehampton 
men on whaling and other voyages in distant quarters of 
the globe. Among others who met violent or untimely 
deaths on far seas or in other lands, in connection with 
whaling were Capt. Samuel Ludlow, Capt.AA'illiam Pier- 
son, Capt. Richard Topping, Erastus Halsey, Charles 
Howell, Stephen Cook, George Topping, George Lud- 
low, William Haines, Edward Baker, George Pierson, 
and Maltby Halsey. One tragedy nearer home, and 
brought to mind by the two stones in Hay Ground 
cemetery to Daniel Williams, aged 27, and Abigail, his 
wife, aged 25, who were drowned March 2S, 1746, may 
be given here in the words of Mr. A. M. Cook, who says. 
"Abigail was the daughter of Elias Cook of Bridge- 
hampton * * * sister of that David, familiarly 
known to all his descendants as 'Grandfather David,' 
a hero of the Revolution and among the few private sol- 
diers Gen. Washington seems to have had. Abigail was 
married to Daniel W'illiams, and with him started on 
their wedding journey in a whale-l)oat across the Sound 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMFTON 253 

to his native place, Seabrooke, or Saybrooke, at that 
time and later, quite as commonly called by the old 
Indian name of 'Petabogne.' On the passage in a sud- 
den squall, the boat foundered, just how, apparently, 
was never known, and these two. at least, were 
drowned." Their bodies were recovered and rest under 
the stones mentioned above. 

Of pirates and pirate gold, there have always been 
tales here as elsewhere along the coast. Early in the 
last century, it used to be thought that if a person 
dreamt three times of treasure, and each time of its be- 
ing buried in the same spot, that it must surely be 
there. It was also believed that if a word were spoken 
while digging, witches would snatch away the treasure 
as soon as unearthed, and on these beliefs is based the 
story of more than one practical joke played upon the 
credulous. It must be admitted that pirate gold is not 
altogether a matter of superstition at the East End, 
however, and has occasionally had a delightful tangibil- 
ity. We have already seen the well authenticated fact 
of the "Money Ship," whether of pirate origin or not. 

The notorious Capt. Kidd did bury some treasure, at 
least, on Gardiner's Island, which was dug up and 
turned over, with all due and proper receipts, to Gov. 
Bellamont of Massachusetts. Although a little out of 
our territory, this receipt may be of interest as showing 
what pirate chests really did contain. The story as it 
only indirectly concerns Bridgehampton cannot be told 
at length here, but the receipt is given below. 

"A true account of all such gold, silver, jewels and merchandize, 
late in possession of Captain William Kidd, which had been seized 
and secured by us pursuant to an order from his Excellency Rich- 
ard, Earl of Bellamont, bearing date July 7, 1669. 

"Received the 17th instant of Mr. John Gardiner, viz: 
No. 1. One bag of gold dust . . . .63% ounces 

2. One bag of coined gold . . . 11 " 
And one in silver .... 124 " 

3. One bag of gold dust . . . 24% 

4. One bag of silver rings and sundry prec- 

ious stones . . . . . 4% " 



254 MEMORIALS OF OLD BKIDGEHAMFTON 

5. One bag of unpolished stones . . 12 ^/^ " 

6. One piece of crystal, carnelian rings, two 

agates, two amethysts ... — 

7. One bag silver buttons and lamps . — 

8. One bag of broken silver . . . 173% " 

9. One bag of gold bars . . . 353 1/4 

10. One do. 238 1/2 

11. One bag of gold dust . . . 59 V^ " 

12. One bag of silver bars . . . 309 " 

Samuel Sewall, Nathaniel Byfield 

Jeremiah Dummer, Andrew Belcher 

Commissioners 

A sad find of gold on the beach to the east of us oc- 
curred about two weeks after the wreck of the John Mil- 
ton on Montauk in the winter of 1858. In this wreck 
every one of the 27 persons on board was drowned, and 
their bodies floated ashore, frozen and ice covered. 
About a fortnight later, a heavy pea jacket was found 
partly buried in the sand, and in one of the pockets a bag 
containing over $400 in gold coin. The finder, the late 
Mr. Aleck Gould, turned the coat and gold over to the 
Coroner, and it being proved that the coat belonged to 
the lost captain — Ephraim Harding — the underwriters 
turned the money over to his widow. 

An odd find, though with no flavor of piracy about it 
was t'lat of a solid silver tablespoon in the bottom of 
Meco , Bay when eeling in 1895. The old newspaper 
article in which I find the mention of the spoon, also 
speaks of the presence, in the bay, of an enormous sea 
serpent during the preceding week, but of that interest- 
ing animal I can find no corroborative evidence. Some 
late home-comer may have seen the "Bay-poose." 

Of the so called "Pirate's Belt." I here give the ver- 
sion of the story, which seems to be well founded on 
fact, as told by the late Mr. C. H. Hildreth. 

"Some time before this, I had an interview with 
Uncle Stephen Topping and among other things we 
talked about this belt, which I had often heard of be- 
fore. Uncle Stephen said that, years before, he asked 
an old Montauk squaw about the pirate vessel. She 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BRlDGEHAMFrON 255 

said the brig came in and anchored off Shagwannock, 
and that the Indians went off to her in their boats, and 
never came back. In the morning the brig was gone. 
Some supposed they were pirates, and planning to dis- 
band and wanted the boats to scatter in different direc- 
tions, and scuttled the brig and sent her and the Indians 
to the bottom together. I think that probably she was 
a slaver, and that so the poor Indians, instead of going 
to the bottom off Shagwannock, went down South as 
slaves. 

"About this time a sick man stopped for the night at 
Timothy Pierson's [1730-1802]. In the morning he 
was so bad that he could not continue his journey and 
soon died. Mrs. Pierson told that just before he died he 
said, 'I wear a belt.' She said they buried him in his 
clothes, belt and all and about 12 o'clock that night, the 
hour when spirit witches are supposed to visit the earth, 
there was a light seen at the grave, which was just 
across the street from the house. I suppose it was 
robbed. I have my opinion on the subject, and all 
others are welcome to theirs." At any rate, I may add, 
immediately after, a certain individual in the commun- 
ity appeared to have considerable money, and a certain 
house was built. It used to be said that this house 
would not stand, built, as it was thought to be. with 
money robbed from the dead, but it is still standing to- 
day, and, like Mr. Hildreth, I am willing to allow my 
readers to draw their own conclusions, moral and other. 



CHAPTER XII 



WHALING AND WHALERS 



As has been stated in a previous chapter, from the 
very earHest days of the settlement, the two chief indus- 
tries were agriculture and whaling. Both had been 
practiced in a primitive fashion by the Indians before 
the coming of the whites, and, in the latter at least, they 
long continued to work for and with the settlers. Orig- 
inally accepting simply what Fate sent them in the form 
of drift whales cast upon the beach, they had already be- 
gun to venture out to sea, bravely attacking whales 
from their canoes long before the coming of the Eng- 
lish, and in Waymouth's Journal, telling of his voyage 
to America in 1605 we have a description of the Indian's 
whaling methods. 

"One especial thing is their manner of killing the 
whale, which they call powdawe ; and will describe his 
form; how he bloweth up the water; and that he is 
twelve fathoms long; and that they go in company of 
their king v/ith a multitude of their boats ; and strike 
him with a bone, made in fashion of a harping iron 
fastened to a rope, which they make great and strong of 
the bark of trees, which they veer out after him; then 
all their boats come about him as he riseth above water. 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMFTON 257 

with their arrows they shoot him to death; when they 
have killed him and dragged him to shore, they call all 
their chief lords together and sing a song of joy; and 
those chief lords, whom they call sagamores, divide the 
spoil and give to every man a share, which pieces so 
distributed, they hang up about their houses for pro- 
visions; and when they boil them, they boil off the fat 
and put to their pease, maize and other pulse which 
they eat."* 

The most acceptable offering which they made to 
their deities were the tails and fins of whales, probably 
so considered, because these, roasted, were held to be 
great dainties by them. Their fondness for these tid 
bits was extraordinary and the Indians' retention of 
them was sometimes made part of agreements with the 
whites. Thus in the deed given by the Montauk 
Indians for that peninsula it is specified that "likewise 
they are to have the fynns and tails of all such whales 
as shall be cast up."t 

To the Township of Southampton belongs probably 
the distinction of first organizing whaling as an indus- 
try, and whales early make their appearance in the 
Town Records. The first entry is of March 7, 1644, 
when it was ordered that "Yf by the providence of God 
there shall be henceforth within the bounds of this 
plantacon any whale or whales cast up, ffor the preven- 
tion of disorder yt is consented unto that there shall be 
fowre wards in this towne, eleaven persons in each 
ward, and by lott two of each ward (if any such whales 
be cast up) shall be employed for the cutting out of the 
sayd whales; who for their paynes shall have a double 
share. And every Inhabitant with his child or servant 
that is above sixteen yeares of age, shall have, in the 
division of the other part an equall proportion, pro- 

*Quoted in Starbuck. 

fEast Hampton Town Records, Vol. I, p 3. 



258 MEMORULS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 

vided that such person when yt falls into his ward [be] 
a sufficient man to be imployed about yt. 

"And yt is further agreed upon that there shall be in 
each ward eleven persons. . . . * 

"Yt is further ordered that Mr. Howell, Mr. Gos- 
mer and Robert Bond shall give notice after any storme 
or according to their discretion unto two persons as 
they are before mentioned, and so from tyme to tyme 
unto other two persons, one of which two shall goe to 
viewe and espie yf there be any whales cast up as far as 
the South Harbor and the other shall go unto the third 
pond beyond Mecocks, beginning at the windmill. And 
yf any person (whose turn it is) who hath Information 
to goe upon discovery and shall not faythfully performt 
the same shall eyther pay ten shillings or be whipped. "t 

These regulations were slightly altered in 1645, when 
it was agreed that no man should presume to take any 
part of a whale he found cast up, under penalty of 20 
shillings fine, and that "whosoever shall find or espie 
eyther whale or whales or any part or peece of a whale 
cast up upon notice given unto the Magistrate" shall 
have 5s. for his trouble, provided "that if any shall find 
a whale or any peece thereof upon the Lord's daye that 
then the aforesaid five shillings shall not be due and 

*1. ffor the first ward William Barnes, Geo. Wood, Thomas 
Cooper, Richard Stratton, Job Sayre, Thomas Burnet, John White, 
William Mulford, Thomas Halsey, Junr., Thomas Talmage, Senr., 
and Mr. Johnes. 

2. ffor ye second ward, Richard laques, Thomas Talmage, Junr., 
Mr. Pierson, Robert Rose, Mr. Gosmer, Thomas Halsey, Senr., Mr. 
Stanborough, Richard Barret, Richard Post, Thomas Tomson, Rob- 
ert Talmage. 

3. ffor the third ward Richard Gosmer, Arthur Bostock, Henry 
Pierson, John Hande, Thomas Hyldreth, John Mulford, John Moore, 
Ellis Cook, Robert Bond, ffulk Davies & Mr. Howe. 

4. ffor the fourth ward, John Cooper, Senr., Tristrum Hedges, 
John Cooper, Junr., John Cory, Mr. Howell, Mr. Odell, John Howell, 
Richard Smith & Thomas Sayre. 

t T. R. Vol. I pp. 31 ff. 



MEMORIALS Ot OLD BKWGEHAMFTON 259 

payable. "t Evidently there was to be no loafing round 
the dune tops on the Sabbath. 

I may here anticipate a little to say that later wig- 
wams were provided for these "watchers" and remained 
in use until less than a century ago. Judge Hedges has 
vividly described the one at Wainscott, which he re- 
membered as a boy, as "constructed of oak saplings, 
sharpened and forced down in the sand with an elliptical 
curve toward the narrow open top, free for the exit of 
smoke, tied together by twigs interwoven at right 
angles with these, sapling ribs, and all thatched with 
rye straw except the door south. . . . Hard by 
was the high stage pole — a tree 25 to 35 feet high — set 
deep in the sand. The projecting branches left un- 
trimmed some foot or more to facilitate climbing, and, 
at intervals, pins driven [through] projected both sides 
to further aid the climber. . . . The boats near 
by, in a sheltered nook rested top side down (with all 
the whaling gear in) on poles which were laid in 
crutches driven in the sand. In good whale weather, 
the surf not being too rough, the watch set a signal on 
the pole that told all, far and near, of good weather and 
warned the whalemen to be ready for a call. When a 
whale was seen near enough to warrant the hope of 
catching, the watch waved his coat on the stage pole, 
and this was 'making a weft.' If the whale came nearer, 
he waved the more vigorously. . . . Then horns 
blew. Then the frantic yell, 'a whale off,' rent the air. 
Men ran wild to gain the beach in time. Boys shouted 
with delight. For once our little world woke up." 

To continue our narrative from the Records, in 1647, 
it was ordered "that the profit of whales, and the bur- 
then of opening the beach for the mill, and all rates, 
levyes and taxes, the killing of wolves and all other 
payments arising for any cause or reason whatsoever 
shall .... be devided, received and payed by 

fT. R. Vol. Tp. 41. 



260 MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 

lands according to what every man hath in his posses- 
sion."* This basis of division according to land was re- 
tained the next year when (Dec, 1648) it was ordered 
that the town should be divided into four quarters and 
each quarter should, in rotation, take charge of cutting 
up any whales cast on shore, the quarter receiving for 
their trouble one fourth of the whale, and yet sharing, 
on the land basis, with all others in the remaining three 
fourths. 

So far, there is nothing to indicate that the people did 
anything save to gratefully accept such whales as were 
cast up on the beach, of which there must have been 
many, judging from the frequent legislation on the sub- 
ject. f In 1650, however, there is a record of the first 
private company formed for the whaling industry and 
it is evident that this company contemplated going out 
to sea after the whales, leaving the drift whales to the 
town as before. This record, which is, I believe, the 
first of any organized whaling company in the new 
world, I give in full. 

"30 Jan., 1650. It is ordered at the saide generall 
court that Mr. John Ogden Senior of Northampton || 
shall have free liberty without interruption from the In- 
habitants of Southampton to kill whales upon the South 
Sea at or within any part of the boundes of the saide 

*T. R. Vol. I p. 44. 

t The whales were evidently migratory, as the season for catch- 
ing them was from November to March or April. Although much 
scarcer, there have continued to be whal es o ff the coast down to 
the present day. I know of no record of those caught during the 
past century, but have found mention here and there of 3 caught 
off Amagansett in 1837; in 1847, within 2 days, 1 was taken at 
Amagansett, 1 at East Hampton, 1 at Bridgehampton, 1 at Wain- 
scott and 1 at Southampton; in 1864, 3 were seen at Southampton 
and 1 was caught; the last I know of as being chased at sea here 
was in April, 1911, when one was seen feeding just off the bar at 
Mecox. Five boats put out and the whale was struck with a dart 
bomb but escaped. The above list makes no pretence whatever to 
being complete. 

il North Sea, often so called in the early days. The "South Sea" 
was then the Atlantic. 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMFTON 2G1 

towne for the space of seaven years next ensuing the 
date hereof & that in that space noe Hberty shall be 
granted to any by the said inhabitants to any other per- 
son or persons * * * provided that he or his com- 
pany doe proceed in the same design and do not delay 
but do somewhat effectual in the business within a 
yeare, as alsoe the saide Mr. John Ogden nor his com- 
pany shall not deny the tonnes inhabitants claiming 
priviledge formerly belonging to them in the dead 
whales yt shall be accidentally cast upon the shoares" 
&c., the privilege to be annulled if the company does 
not kill a whale within two years. 

In 1654, with slight modifications, this exclusive priv- 
ilege was renewed to "Mr. Odell and Mr. Ogden and 
their company," and in 1658, there was a new and more 
detailed agreement with a whaling company, which, 
though unnamed, was doubtless Mr. Ogden's. 

The industry was evidently successful and we con- 
tinue to hear much of it in the Records and find it reach- 
ing out beyond the mere limits of the town. In July, 
1659, "Wiandance, Sachem of Pawmanack, or Long 
Island," with his son Weeayacomboun sold to Lyon 
Gardiner "all the bodys and bones of all the whales that 
shall come upon the land, or come ashore, from the 
place called Kitchaminfchoke unto the place called 
Enoughquamuck, only the fins and tayles of all, we re- 
serve for ourselves and Indians for the space of 21 
years."* This was assigned to Anthony Waters of 
Southampton, who in turn sold and assigned it to 
Thomas Cooper "in consideration of the horse hee last 
broke come 3 years old." 

In 1667, a much more ambitious company was 
formed, including John Cooper, to procure a vessel with 
a crew of "13 men and a boy" to make a vovage "for the 
terme of six months certaine and eight months uncer- 
tain ... to Roanoak or those parts upon the 

*T. R. Vol. II p. 34. 



262 MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 

design of killing or getting whales or great fish for ye 
procureing of oyle."t 

There are evidences of considerable activity in the 
next few years and from about 1670 we find constant 
records of agreements with individual Indians to go to 
sea upon "the whale design," with evidence also of 
steadily increasing pay for the Indians, as well as of 
the fact that they by no means always stuck to their 
bargains. 

Among many agreements which might be cited, we 
may note that in 1670, John Howell, Joseph Raynor, 
Richard Howell, and their partners agree with Paqua- 
nag and other Shinnecock Indians that the latter shall 
whale for the company for 3 years for the same pay as 
the past 3 years, and in addition each to have an iron 
pot such as John Cooper gives to his Indians. 

In the same year, Towsacum and Philip, Indians, 
hired themselves to JosiasLaughton to whale ofTMecox 
for each season for 3 Indian coats, 1 pair of shoes, "or a 
buck neck to make them," 1 pair of stockings, 3 lbs. of 
shot, y2 lb. of powder, and a bushel of Indian corn,"* 
In the next year, we find Anthony Ludlam and Arthur 
Howell also hiring Indians for assorted wages. Com- 
ing down to 1675, however, we find agreements which 
allow the Indians a half share in the catch, the white 
men to provide the utensils and to do the carting. || 

But beside "labor troubles," the whaling companies 
were soon to feel the heavy hand of a stupid and tyran- 
nical government. I cannot enter here into all the vex- 
atious details of attempted interference with the Town's 
rights in the whaling industry. Sufiice it to say that 
these culminated in 1711, when Gov. Hunter, after re- 
quiring all Southampton companies to take out a li- 
cense from himself, claimed and took one half of all the 

tT. R. Vol. II p. 50. 
*T. R. Vol. II p. 56. 
II -T. R. Vol. II p. 197. 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 263 

oil and bone of captured whales, and granted to Rich- 
ard Wood exclusive possession of all stranded whales, 
reserving to himself one half. In 1716, Samuel Mulford 
of East Hampton, a citizen of whom our neighbor town 
may well be proud, journeyed to England, and suc- 
ceeded in having the Governor's claims revoked. He 
at first found it hard to make headway, as a provincial 
and a stranger in that great capital, and several 
times had his pockets picked in the streets on account 
of his "verdant" appearance. Tradition relates that he 
sewed fish hooks in them and so caught the next of- 
fender, an exploit which gave him much notoriety and 
a certain vogue which assisted his mission. The des- 
tinies of peoples have hung on many things. In this 
case it is not unlikely that they hung on fish hooks.* 

*Details of the whaling industry in Suffolk County in 1711 are 
found in a mss. letter from Daniel Sayre to "Mr. George Clark, 
Chiefe Secretary att New Yorke," written April 18 of that year, 
which is in the Archives at Albany, [p. 188 Vol. 54 New York 
Colonial Manuscripts]. As this is important in showing the vol- 
ume of the trade and who were engaged in it at the time of the 
agitation, and as, so far as I know, it has never before been printed, 
I give it in full. 

"Hond Sr. 

After humble Service These may Enform you that I sent you A 
2d Leter but fearing it may not be Come to your hand, these may 
Enform you Concerning ye Oyl. 

1: Daniel Miller Saith that mr. John Gardiners Company of 
eighteen men & Mr. Samll Mulfords company of twenty fours men 
have goten Aboute two barrills A man. 

2 and: Capt. Theophylus Howell, Elisha Howell & Lemuell How- 
ell with twelve men in thare Company hath got twenty two barrills 
of oyl. I am informed by Joseph Moor Junr one of ye same Com- 
pany. 

3 and: Capt. Josia Toping, Theoder Pierson, Stephen toping & 
Hezeciah Toping hath Seven barrills as Theoder Person enforms 
me to twelve men. 

4. John Michell, Thos. Sanford, Benjamin Howell, Thos. Howell, 
twelve men in Company by Comon fame have Seven barrills to 
thare Company. 

5. Isaac Rainer, Daniel Halsy, Jonathan Howell & Edward 
Howell with twelve men in the Whale Company have twenty fore 
barrills as John Sayre enforms me. 

6. Thomas Halsy enforms me that twenty foure men in Com- 
pany Thomas Stephens James Coper Henry person & Ichabod 
Sayre being owners have goten two barrills and halfe to A man. 



264 MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMFTON 

From about 1750, the industry advanced rapidly and 
by 1774 was probably employing, in all the colonies, 360 
vessels and 4700 men directly, and indirectly many 
more, in spite of the frequent depredations of French 
and Spanish privateers. But with the outbreak of the 
Revolution, the industry suffered severely, the English, 
in men of war and privateers, not only capturing many 
of these unarmed vessels but forcing the captives (by 
Act of Parliament), irrespective of their rank, to fight 
their own country as common sailors on board the Eng- 
lish ships. A choice was offered them to do this 
according to the Act or enter the English whale 
fishery, which was largely built up by these means. 

In 1785, the Sag Harbor whalers re-entered the bus- 
iness, the earlier sloops and schooners then giving place 
to brigs and ships, and the increasing scarcity of whales 
lengthening the voyages out to the Pacific, until tempor- 
arily stopped again by the War of 1812.* Many new 
grounds were tried, the coast of Japan in 1819, Zanzibar 
in 1828, Kamschatka in 1843, while in 1848 Capt. Royce 

7. Hezeciah Howell, Samll Johnes & John Coper in Company of 
twelve men have foure barrills A man as Thos. Halsey enforms me 
& Hezeciah Howell Draws one halfe of it. 

8. Justis Richard Smith & Israeli Howell & moses Culver 12 
men in Company have twenty nine barrills & % of oyle thay lost 
thare bone by ye Conue overseting. Ricard Smith Draws halfe ye 
boat share. I am enformed by Abraham Coper. 

Collanel Floyds and the Rest of Setooket mens oyl I have no 
certain account of. Nor at Islips what they have thare. 

Sr. you Wrought to me concerning ye Drifts, thare hath bin but 
one this year of About 20 barrills as Capt. Stephs had acquainted 
his Excelcy as he told me but If you please to Impower me, I Will 
take all ye care I can of ye Queans Whales for ye future for Capt. 
Stephens I think Will take care no more in this World he being 
very Dangerously Sick if not dead. Which with my humble Deuty 
to his Excy is offered by 

Yor most humble Servant 
Daniel Sayre 
Brighampton 

Aprill ye 18th 1711 

*It has been said that the first vessel to engage in the industry 
after the Revolution, was the schooner Eagle Capt. Ephraim 
Fordham, Sag Harbor which cruised off the south shore of Long 
Island. 



MEMORIALS Of OLD BKIDGEHAMPTON 265 

of Sag Harbor in the bark Superior passed through 
Behring's Strait. The length of the voyages steadily- 
increased until by the time the terrible disaster over- 
took the Arctic whaling fleet in 1871, ships occasionally 
stayed out as long as six years and then returned with 
only a part cargo. The disaster spoken of, in which 34 
vessels were crushed by the ice off Point Belcher, and 
1200 seamen shipwrecked, following the destruction 
caused by the Confederate steamer Shenandoah six 
years previously, greatly reduced the American whaling 
fleet, which had been declining for commercial reasons 
as well,t so that in 1875 there were but 119 ships and 
barks and 44 brigs and schooners in the industry. 

The earliest records of all the whaling ports are very 
meagre and although we know that ships had left Sag 
Harbor earlier, engaged in this pursuit, the first entry 
given for that place in Starbuck is 1760, when the sloops 
Goodlnek, Dolphin, and Success sailed for Disco Island. 
It is no part of my design to trace in detail the general 
growth of the trade, which was shared in by the men 
of all the Hamptons, nor can I attempt a complete 
record or even list of all the men from this village who, 
from first to last, engaged in this pursuit. As far as I 
have been able to ascertain, it was from 1830 to 1860 
that the men of this place were most actively interested, 
and it has been stated that in the forties, when the trade 
was at its height, as many as 60 Bridgehampton men 
were away in the ships at one time. An old whaling 
song of that day, as given by Spears, might well have 
applied to Bridgehampton, as to all whaling villages. 

I asked a maiden by my side. 
Who sighed, and looked to me forlorn, 
"Where is your heart?" She quick replied, 
" 'Round Cape Horn." 

fSee next chapter for effect of the gold rush to California. 



266 MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 

I said "I'll let your father know," 
To boys in mischief on the lawn; 
They all replied, "Then you must go 
'Round Cape Horn." 

In fact I asked a little boy 
If he could tell where he was born; 
He answered, with a mark of joy, 
" 'Round Cape Horn !" 

Of all the commercial occupations Americans have 
l^een engaged in, it was perhaps the most romantic, em- 
bracing all the uncertainties of other enterprises, all the 
perils and romantic possibilities of any other life upon 
the sea, together with the excitements and dangers of 
hunting the biggest game in the world. How real these 
dangers were is evidenced by a monument in the Bury- 
ing Ground in Sag Harbor, on one side of which we 
read, "To commemorate that noble enterprise the whale 
fishery; and a tribute of lasting respect to those bold 
and enterprising shipmasters. Sons of Southampton, 
who perilled their lives in a daring profession and 
perished in actual encounter with the monsters of the 
deep." On the other side is the inscription 

Charles W. Payne, Capt. of the Ship Fanny, aged 30 Killed in 1838 

Stratton H. Harlow, " " " " Dan. Webster " 27 " " 1838 

Alfred G. Glover, " " " " Acasta " 29 " " 1836 

Richard S. Topping " " " " Thorn " 29 " " 1838 

William H. Pierson " " " " America " 30 " " 1846 

John E. Howell " " " " France " 28 " " 1840 

In relating some typical stories of our whaling Cap- 
tains and seamen, as I have come across them, I may 
l)egin with a noteworthy example of humanity. Capt. 
Isaac Ludlow (Feb. 9, 1807-Dec. 7. 1871) first went to 
sea at the age of 15, and before he retired, about 1857, 
had made twenty voyages on whaling ships, eight of 
them as commander of his vessel. In August, 1835, 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 267 

the British bark Meridian was wrecked oif the island of 
Amsterdam in the Indian Ocean and Capt. Ludlow 
saved 105 of the passengers and crew, abandoning a 
profitable voyage to carry the rescued to safety. For 
this humane action he received the thanks of the Brit- 
ish Admiralty and a very beautiful gold medal from that 
official body as well as two others and many more 
marks of recognition and gratitude. 

Capt. Benjamin H. Halsey, who died in 1896 (Born 
Oct. 15, 1820) shipped on a whaling vessel from Sag 
Harbor when 16, cruising in the South Atlantic, the 
voyage lasting about a year. His second voyage was in 
the Indian Ocean lasting two years and three months. 
On his third voyage, he was "boat-steerer," and sailed 
as mate from Sag Harbor in 1847 on the Tuscany, whose 
Captain, Silas W. Edwards, died at Honolulu Dec, 
1849, Capt. Halsey taking charge of the vessel, in which 
he acquired an interest, and remaining on her as Cap- 
tain for nine years. He circumnavigated the globe 8 
times, the longest voyage lasting nearly four years, and 
was the means of saving many lives at different times. 
In 1865, he was one of those who had an encounter with 
the Shenandoah in the Arctic. 

Capt. Henry E. Huntting (April 17, 1828-Feb. 17, 
1903) attended the old Southampton Academy and then 
went to Sag Harbor to learn the cooper's trade. After 
serving his apprenticeship he shipped on his first whal- 
ing voyage as cooper and second mate. On his second 
cruise he went as mate of the ship Jefferson, Sag Har- 
bor, whose commander was his brother Capt. James R. 
Huntting. On his third voyage he was himself Captain, 
his ship being the Charles Carroll, on which he made 
several cruises to the Arctic. He afterwards commanded 
the Jefferson, and on one voyage sighted Long Island 
the day Fort Sumter was fired on. In 1863, when 
rounding Cape Horn in command of the Pacific, he en- 
countered a terrific gale which dismantled his ship and 



268 MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 

made a return necessary. He reached Sag Harbor in 
1864 and did not sail again. 

He was Superintendent of the 3rd District Life Sav- 
ing Service, comprising Long Island, Rhode Island and 
Block Island from 1869 to 1885, in which latter year he 
was elected to the State Legislature, being re-elected in 
1888 and 1889, when he declined a renomination. He 
acquired the worthy nick name of "Old Honesty" 
among his fellow members in the Assembly, and be- 
came a picturesque figure at the Capitol. A phrase 
from one of his racy speeches became celebrated, when 
he referred to the Capitol Building as "a Chimborazo 
steal." When asked for an explanation, he stated that 
when on his way to California once he saw Mt. Chim- 
borazo at the distance of 100 miles, and its snow capped 
grandeur so impressed him that ever since anything on 
a colossal scale always recalled the mountain.* 

Capt. James R. Huntting (Jan. 21, 1825-Feb. 13, 
1882) made his first voyage with Capt. Wva. H. Payne 
in the bark Portland, Sag Harbor, when 16. On Sept. 5, 
1848, he sailed as master of the bark Nimrod returning 
with a full cargo Sept. 3, 1850. The following Novem- 
ber he again sailed, as master of the ship Jefferson, 
returning March 23, 1853, with a cargo valued at $150,- 
000. After a second successful voyage in the same ship, 
he remained ashore for some years, devoting himself to 
agriculture. l)ut in 1860 he went to sea again in com- 
mand of the bark General Scoff, New Bedford, and again 
in the bark Fanny from the same port. On his return in 
1869 he gave up the sea for good and became a partner 

*Col. Isaac Conklin, representative from Suffolk Co. in 1826, is 
said to have made the most telling speech ever made in the As- 
sembly. It is reported he never made but the one, and at any rate 
had never opened his mouth in the Assembly before it. A certain 
nomination to office had been made when the Colonel rose and 
thundered out. "Mr. Speaker, that fellow is no more fit for that 
position than Hell is for a powder house." The Speaker quieted 
the ensuing uproar with the remark, "The House will please come 
to order — the gentleman from Suffolk has made a speech. — From 
an old newspaper clipping. 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BRWGEHAMPTON 2G9 

in the mercantile business of Tiffany & Huntting, hav- 
ing bought the present Hampton House for his home 
from Nathan Rogers. 

In Capt. Davis' book "Nimrod of the Sea," there are 
many stories told of the old whaling captains, and I here 
reprint those which I know relate to Capt. Huntting, 
and which, incidentally, I may say are quite true. He 
was an immensely powerful, man standing 6 feet 6 
inches and of proverbial strength. 

Capt. Davis' first story is of an encounter with a bull 
sperm whale off the River De la Plata. "When the 
monster was struck he did not attempt to escape, but 
turned at once on the boat with his jaw, cut her in two 
and continued threshing the wreck until it was com- 
pletely broken up. One of the loose boats picked up 
the swimmers and took them to the ship; the other two 
boats went on and each planted two irons in the irate 
animal. This aroused him and he turned his full fury on 
them, crushing in their bottoms with the jaw, and not 
leaving them while a promising mouthful held together. 
Twelve demoralized men were in the water, anxious 
observers of his majestic anger. Two men who could 
not swim, had in their terror, climbed on his back, and 
seated themselves astride forward of the hump, as per- 
haps the safest place from that terrible ivory mounted 
war club which he brandished with such awful effect. 
At one time another man was clinging to the hump with 
his hands. The boat which had gone to the ship with 
the crew of the first stove boat now returned and took 
the swimmers on board. 

"The whale had now six harpoons in him, and to 
these were attached three tow lines of 300 fathoms each. 
He manifested no disposition to escape but sought to 
reduce still further the wreck about him. Boats, masts 
and sails were entangled in his teeth; and if an oar or 
anything touched him, he struck madly at it with his 
jaw. This was entirely satisfactory to Capt. Huntting. 



270 MEMORIALS OF OLD BKIDGEHAMFTON 

who was preparing other boats to renew the fight. At 
length two spare boats were rigged, and these, with the 
saved boat, put off again. The Captain pulled on, but 
the whale saw the boat, and tried his old trick of sweep- 
ing his jaw through the bottom of it. She was thrown 
out of his sweep, however, and the Captain fired a bomb 
lance, charged with six ounces of powder, which entered 
behind the fin and exploded in his vitals. Before the 
crew could get out of his way 'he tore right through my 
boat like a hurricane, scattering all hands right and left.' 
So said Capt. Huntting. Now, four boats were utterly 
lost, some twelve hundred fathoms of line, and all the 
gear. The remaining two boats were hastily and poorly 
provided, the men were gallied [frightened], the sun 
was going down, and the captain, when he was fished 
out, consented to give up the day and cry beat. 

"All hands went to work to fit other boats. Through 
the night, under shortened sail, the ship lay near the 
scene of conflict, and while the weather was calm it was 
possible to keep track of the whale as he occasionally 
beat around. But the breaking day brought rough 
weather, and the Captain proceeded to Buenos Ayres, as 
much to allow his men, who were green, to run away, as 
for the purpose of refitting, as he knew they would be 
useless thereafter. In this design he was not thwarted. 
Most of them promptly deserted, having had enough of 
wrestling with 'the fighting whale of the La Plata.'* 

Another story of Capt. Huntting is as follows: "My 
second mate had fastened to a large whale that seemed 
disposed to be ugly; so I pulled up and fastened to her 
also. I went into the bow and darted my lance, but the 
whale rolled so that I missed the life and struck into the 
shoulder blade. It struck so deep into the bone (per- 

*After the whaling; industry passed its zenith, particularly after 
the discovery of gold in California, although there were still many 
splendid men in the crews, as a whole they deteriorated. They 
were necessarily more and more recruited from a lower class and 
mutinies became more frequent. Cf. Starbuck. 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMFTON 271 

haps through it) that I could not draw it out; the whole 
body of the whale shivered and squirmed as though in 
great pain. Then turning a little, she cut her flukes, 
taking the boat amidships. The broadside was stove in, 
and the boat rolled over, the crew having jumped into 
the sea. I cut the line in the chocks at the same mo- 
ment, to save being run under with a kink. The crew 
were soon safely housed on the bottom of the upturned 
boat, or swimming and clinging to the keel. The second 
mate wanted to cut his line and pick us up, but I fool- 
ishly told him to hold on and kill the whale; that we 
were doing quite as well as could be expected. But I 
had bragged too soon. Just then the whale came up on 
the full breach, and striking the boat, he went right 
through it, knocking men and wreck high in the air. 
Next the great bulk fell over sideways, like a small 
avalanche, right in our midst ; and spitefully cut the 
corners of her flukes right and left. In the surge and 
confusion two poor fellows went down and we saw no 
sign of them afterward, and the water was so dark, 
stained with blood, that we could not see into it. 

"As the whale came feeling around with her nose, 
she passed close by me. I was afraid of the flukes, and 
got hold of the warp, or iron pole, or her small or some- 
thing, and towed a little way until she slacked speed a 
little. Then I dove under, so as to clear the flukes, and 
came up astern of them. I was in good time; for hav- 
ing felt the boat she turned over and threshed the spot 
with a number of blows in quick succession, pounding 
the wreck into splinters. She must have caught sight 
of me, for she came up on a half breach, and dropped 
her head on me, and drove me. half stunned, deep 
under water. Again, I came up near the small, and 
again dove under the flukes. From this time she 
seemed to keep me in sight. Again and again — the 
mate told me afterward — she would run her head in the 



272 MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMFTUN 

air and fall on my back, bruising and half drowning me 
as I was driven down in the water. 

"Sometimes I caught hold of the line, or something, 
attached to the mad brute, and would hold on until a 
sweep of the flukes would take my long legs and break 
my hold. The second mate's boat had cut long ago, 
and watched her chance to pick up the surviving crew, 
but had not been able to reach me, for when the 
whale's eye caught the boat, she would dash for it so 
wickedly that the whole crew became demoralized, ow- 
ing to the loss of the two men, and the sight, to them 
more terrible than to me perhaps, of the peril the cap- 
tain was in. To husband my strength, I gave over 
swimming, and, treading water, I faced the danger, and 
several times by sinking avoided the blows from her 
head. As a desperate resource, I strove with my 
pointed sheath knife to prick her nose;* I did all a 
strong man was in duty bound to do to save his life. 
The cooper, who was ship keeper, ran down with the 
ship, intending to cut between the whale and myself, 
but we were at too close quarters. He was afraid to 
run me down lest he might tear me with the ragged 
copper. Thus for three quarters of an hour that whale 
and I were fighting; the act of breathing became la- 
bored and painful; my head and shoulders were sore 
from bruises, and my legs had been pounded by his 
flukes ; but it was not until I found myself swimming 
with my arms alone and that my legs were hanging 
paralyzed, that I felt actually scared. Then it looked 
to me as if I couldn't hold out much longer; I had seen 

*Capt. Davis says in comment, "on the tip of the upper jaw 
[right whale] there is a spot of very limited extent, seemingly as 
sensitive in feeling as the antennae of an insect. * * * How- 
ever swiftly a right whale may be advancing on the boat, a slight 
prick on this point will arrest his forward motion at once. I 
think it safe to say he will not advance a single yard after the 
prick is given * * * it is endowed with a backing power simply 
marvellous when we consider the enormous weight moving for- 
ward with great speed." 



'MEMORIALS OF OLD BKIDGEHAMPTON 273 

i'the ship close beside me, and the second mate's boat 
trying to get in to me, and throwing me lines, or some- 
thing to float on, but I had failed to reach them. Now 
these things seemed very far of¥; and that was the 
last I remembered until I came to on board the ship. 

"I was afterwards told that the first mate, in answer 
to a signal from the ship, had come up, and seeing me 
feebly paddling with my hands and not answering to 
his hail, he put straight into the fight. The whale saw 
them coming and made for them. The men sprang to 
their oars, and the mate had only time to seize my col- 
lar, while they pulled their best to escape from the 
furious whale. Thus they gained time to take me into 
the boat, seemingly a drowned man. The mate had 
true pluck. Leaving me to the care of the crew on 
board, he put back for the whale. As he afterwards 
said, 'She was too dangerous a cuss to run at large in 
that pasture-field.' Watching a chance he got a 'set' on 
her over the shoulder blade, and sent the red flag into 
the air. This tamed her; she lagged around for a time, 
and settled away dead. The mate then came on board 
and reported 'sunk whale;' and I was put to bed, a 
mass of bruised flesh. It was several weeks before I 
was able to take my place in the head of my boat again." 

Two more stories of the Captain illustrate the neces- 
sary resourcefulness that was developed in the best type 
of whalers by their life. 

"\\'hen he was a boat-steerer, a sperm whale stove 
his boat and rolled it over on him. He came up under 
it, all tangled in the line that was coiled in the stern 
sheets of the boat. He fought like a giant to throw off 
the deadly coil. It was about his body, his arms, and 
his neck. It was for dear life that he was working, and 
he knew the odds were against him. He got rid of the 
line, as he thought, and had got a breath of the blessed 
air and a glance at God's sunlight, when he was jerked 
out of the sight of his horrified shipmates. A bight of 



274 MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 

the line, yet attached to the sounding whale, was 
around his ankle, and he bid good bye to this world as 
he was plunging into the deep sea. Yet he was alert 
to take instant advantage of a slack in the speed of the 
whale. Drawing himself forward by the line, with his 
sheath knife he severed the cord beyond the entangled 
foot, and rose to the surface, exhausted by the time he 
had been under and the lacerating wounds inflicted by 
the tight strained line. The boats picked him up. No 
one on board knew anything more of surgery than he 
did. So, with help from willing but unskilled hands, the 
broken ankle was patched up after a fashion, and kind 
Nature healed it, with the bones unshipped and out of 
place, leaving him nearly as good a man as he was be- 
fore his awful plunge. 

"Another instance of wonderful preservation from a 
cruel death by the line occurred in his experience many 
years after this, and goes to show how the whaleman is 
educated to perform and inspired to suffer in the stern 
vicissitudes of the chase. By some mishap, the line 
kinked in the boat and a man was caught and jerked 
from the boat by the running whale. After being 
drawn with frightful speed some 125 fathoms from the 
boat, he was released by his limbs giving way to the 
strain. Thus freed, and almost unconscious, he rose to 
the surface and was picked up and carried on board the 
ship. On examination it was found that a portion of 
the hand, including four fingers had been torn away, 
and the foot sawed through at the ankle, leaving only 
the great tendon and the heel suspended to the lacer- 
ated stump. From the knee downward the muscular 
flesh had been rasped away by the line, leaving the pro- 
truding bone enveloped in a tangled mat of tendons 
and bleeding arteries. * * * At that time, the New 
Bedford ships were the only ones that carried surgical 
instruments to meet such a case. But Captain Jim was 
not the man to allow any one to perish on slight provo- 



MEMORIALS Of OLD BKIDGEHAMFTON 275 

cation. He had his carving knife, carpenter's saw and a 
fish hook. The injury was so frightful and the poor 
fellow's groans and cries so touching, that several of 
the crew fainted in their endeavors to aid the Captain in 
the operation and others sickened and turned away 
from the sight. Unaided, the Captain then lashed the 
screaming patient on the carpenter's bench, amputated 
the leg, and dressed the hand as best he could. Then 
running to the Sandwich Islands, he placed the sailor in 
the hospital, where he recovered, returning to the 
United States." 

Capt. Chas. A. Pierson (Dec. 1, 1834-Apr. 16, 1903) 
made his first voyage on the Edgar when about 17, 
spending about four years in the North Pacific until 
1855 when the ship was wrecked. The following year 
he reached home and went out again as boat steerer in 
the ship Splendid, soon becoming mate. He remained 
on her four years, in 1863 becoming Captain of the 
Jonas Smith which he commanded until 1865 when he 
bought an interest in the merchant schooner George M . 
Smith. Nine months later, when loaded with shot and 
shell, she foundered at sea, 300 miles ofT Capt Hatteras. 
Capt. Pierson was picked up by the brig Nellie Johnson 
of Nova Scotia, returned home and continued in com- 
mand of other ships until 1867, when he settled at home 
for good, though still owning interests in 18 vessels. 
He was President of the Sag Harbor Brick Co., Di- 
rector in the Southampton and Peconic Banks, as well 
as an official in other business and charitable institu- 
tions. 

Elihu M. Pierson, who was on the Sabina, which will 
be spoken of at length in the next chapter, also had ex- 
perience in whaling. His first voyage, on the Edgar, 
lasted about two years in the South Pacific and ended 
in shipwreck on a desolate island, where they were 
eventually picked up by a passing whaler. He also 
sailed in the Charles Carroll, and in 1859 returned home 



276 MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 

via Cape Horn in the Neptune Car, one of the fast chp- 
pers of the day. He was 3 years in the North Pacific 
on the General Scoff, and was chief mate on the Isaac 
Hozvland, which was to have made a 3 years cruise in 
the Antarctic via Cape of Good Hope, but was one of the 
ships caught and burned by the Shenandoah. He subse- 
quently made two Puget Sound cruises, and spent three 
years as first mate on the Hibernia in the Antarctic, 
leaving the ship at the Sandwich Islands in 1868 and 
coming home for good, settling in Southampton. 

Another Bridgehampton man to suffer by the Shen- 
andoah and thus eventually share in the Alabama claims, 
was Gurden Pierson Ludlow (Oct. 21, 1836-Dec. 29, 
1915). He was boat steerer on the Fabrious, Capt. 
Dan'l Wood, had rounded Cape Horn in a frightful 
storm and had started on his third season in the Arctic, 
when the ship was captured and burned with the others. 
Before this he had been shipwrecked on the Lower 
California coast, the ship's company, which had had to 
take to the boats, being subsequently picked up by an- 
other whaler. 

Capt. Augustus E. Halsey made many whaling voy- 
ages to the South Atlantic, Indian, North Pacific and 
Arctic Oceans. He was third mate on the William Tell, 
second mate on the Bli^abefh Firth, first mate, and later 
Captain, on the Charlotte. In 1854 he went to Califor- 
nia, where he spent three years mining and then re- 
turned to Bridgehampton where he lived until his death. 

Capt. James A. Rogers (Jan. 14, 1818-Feb. 26, 1910), 
who lived at Hay Ground, made his first voyage on the 
Concordia in 1838, being gone ten months on the Atlan- 
tic. On his second voyage, of 22 months, on the Hudson, 
in the Indian Ocean, he visited New Holland and New 
Zealand, and on later voyages he whaled in the South 
Pacific, the Japan sea, off Alaska, off Patagonia, and in 
other parts of the Pacific. In an interview in the Brook- 
lyn Times in 1906, the Captain was quoted as saying: 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 277 

"I was promoted from before the mast to boat steerer 
on my first voyage, and it was on a voyage with Capt. 
Monroe Havens in the Acasfa that I struck a whale that 
stove the boat and the full crew came near drowning. 
We were in the water several hours before another boat 
picked us up. My next voyage was in the Henry Lee, 
Capt. Lewis Bennett, bound for Kamschatka. It was a 
voyage attended with a number of sad fatalities. Off 
Kodiac Islands a right whale was struck that stove the 
boat and killed two men, and, a few days after, our 
cutting blocks fell and struck Henry Baker of Bridge- 
hampton on the head, killing him instantly. From these 
islands, we went to Sitka, Alaska, where we had a new 
mast made by the Russians, .who used no other tools 
but axes. Crossing the Pacific and touching at the 
Sandwich Islands, the ship returned home by way of 
Cape Horn, having 2800 barrells of oil, after a three 
years' voyage." The next voyage was again on the 
Henry Lee to East Hobartown, Pitcairn and Sandwich 
Islands, getting $32000 worth of oil in 2 years. 

He next went out on the Phoenix, Capt. James Green, 
of Southampton, sailed direct to the Japan Sea, where 
the ship was filled in 2 months, and where they had an 
encounter with a monster whale which smashed the 
boat the Captain was in into a thousand pieces and 
killed George Ludlow of Bridgehampton. 

"I first trod my own quarter deck in 1853," the inter- 
view continues, "as master of the ship Timor, 280 tons, 
owned by Huntting Cooper, and sailed for the north- 
west coast and the Arctic Ocean via Cape of Good Hope 
on June 7th. In the Okhotsk Sea I had a very narrow 
escape, nearly losing my vessel by a tidal wave,which 
swept over the entire length of the ship. It was a 
driving snow storm and knowing by my chart that there 
were rocks ahead, I expected each moment to hear the 
cry of 'Breakers ahead!' The tide was so strong the 
ship could not be held to her course, while darkness 



278 MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMFTON 

settled down and I had no control of the ship. On each 
side of us were snow crested mountains. Imagine my 
surprise and relief when morning- came to find myself in 
a position of safety. The wind died down and the ship 
righted up. The whole season was passed in the Ok- 
hotsk Sea. 

"One day a sperm whale was killed. In cutting this 
whale, I noticed some strange dark colored pieces as 
large as a duck's egg floating in the water. I didn't 
know what it was but thought it might be ambergris 
and picked up 12 lbs. of it. Had I been sure of what it 
was, fifty pounds could have been saved. It proved to 
be ambergris and my agent in New York sold it for $95 
per lb. Later I met a Captain who sold $7000 worth at 
Madagascar, getting $150 per pound. I brought 3000 
barrels of oil in 1856, making a prosperous voyage 
worth $80,000." 

On his 8th, and last, voyage, on the bark Union, ofif 
the coast of Patagonia he encountered a heavy gale 
called a "pampero" during which his ship lay on her 
beam ends for 36 hours without a sail set. She was, 
happily, not dismasted, and on the way home he was 
able to rescue 14 men of the crew of the wrecked Tilly, 
(7 had already drowned), in the Gulf Stream. They 
had been almost without food for 10 days and had given 
up hope of rescue. 

The capture of the whaling fleet by the Shenandoah 
has been mentioned several times, and I here give a 
vivid account of it as told by Capt. Jeremiah Ludlow 
(1816-1895) as reported in the New York Herald, 1895. 
Capt. Ludlow had gone to sea when 15 as cabin boy on 
the Columbia, then spent four years on the Cadmus. His 
first command was the Neptune^ after which he com- 
manded the Black Eagle, Contest, Isaac Hoivland, and 
Hibernia, being caught in the Arctic ice for a month in 
the last named. He had circumnavigated the globe 
four times, had had many narrow escapes while har- 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMFTON 279 

pooning whales, and, like many of the old Captains, was 
a man of most powerful build, standing 6 feet 3 inches in 
his stockings. 

"Capt. Ludlow." states the article, *'had been master 
for many years, when he was called to New Bedford to 
take command of the clipper ship Isaac Hoivland, which 
Edward Robinson, father of Mrs. Hetty Green, had 
fitted out as a whaler. No greater praise could be 
spoken of the craft than the old man's words 'She was 
a ship.' Her graceful, well scraped spars, her symmet- 
rical Hnes and her exquisitely moulded hull told what 
she was — an American clipper. 

"Around stormy Cape Horn, through tropic days and 
nights, urged by monsoons and bafifled by capricious 
winds, she made her way to the North Pacific, and on 
the morning of June 28, 1865, stood at the entrance of 
Behring Strait. On one side, behind the bank of fog, 
was Cape East and only a few miles away lay the Asi- 
atic mainland. * * * The fog slowly lifted, and a 
league away Capt. Ludlow saw nine ships and barks 
ranged in a group about a craft flying signals of dis- 
tress. He was curious to see the cause of the trouble. 
He learned, but it cost him dearly. 

"The American ship Bninszvick had been damaged off 
there by an ice floe. Her bows were stove and she was 
sinking. One by one the other ships had seen her re- 
versed ensign and had come to her aid. It was at the 
beginning of the whaHng season and these craft were 
going from 'lands of sun to lands of snow.' 

"The crew of the Bntnszvick and their effects were 
taken ofif. There were eleven craft riding at their cables 
ready to sail into the frozen north. The fog hfted and 
over the sea rim to the southward appeared a black 
funnel and the squared yards of a man of war. The 
•fleet of whalers made no sign to get out of the way. 
The skippers thought they saw a British man of war. 

"The flags did not look British exactly. The craft 



280 MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 

came nearer. Ports flew open, and the sun, which had 
broken through the fog, shone on gHstening cannon. 
There was a fluttering of bunting, a quick movement of 
halyards, and the Stars and Bars whipped out from un- 
der the mizzen gaff. It was the Rebel Privateer Shen- 
andoah. Over her side swarmed a hundred men. The 
davits swung, there was a rattle of blocks, and half a 
dozen boats, filled with armed sailors, were moving 
toward the peaceful flotilla. 

"Capt. Ludlow, at the approach of the stranger, had 
lowered a boat and gone himself to speak her. He 
soon caught the glint of rifled cannon and flash of mus- 
kets. He came alongside. The commanding officer, 
standing on the bridge, ordered him to return at once to 
his ship. The skipper saw and heard enough to know 
that the stranger was the privateer Shenandoah. She 
was commanded by the notorious Capt. Wardell. The 
decks of the cruiser were cleared for action. Every 
gun was manned. 

"The boats went among the fleet, and men in quick, 
sharp sentences told the skippers that they must get 
ready to leave at once. Capt. Ludlow returned to his 
ship. He went into the cabin and hastily gathered to- 
gether his papers. While he was there he heard the 
measured beat of oars outside and the sound of scram- 
bling feet over the vessel's side. He left his cabin and 
was confronted by two files of armed men. Capt. War- 
dell stood before him. 

" 'Sir,' said the commander, 'consider yourself a 
prize to the Confederate ship Shenandoah.' 

" 'Well, I guess not my hearty,' said Capt. Ludlow 
easily, 'We Yanks have wiped out your Southern Con- 
federacy. The best thing you can do is to break for 
cover. Don't you know, my friend, that the war is 
over?' 

"Capt. Wardell knew nothing of the kind. The Yan- 
kee skipper showed him the papers telhng of the sur- 



MEMORIALS Ot OLD BKIDGEHAMFTON 2«1 

render of Lee and the end of the great rebelhon. Capt. 
Wardell smiled superciliously. 

" 'All Yankee lies,' he said, 'I don't want to look at 
your newspapers. Pack up. This ship is going to be 
fired.' 

"The skipper expostulated. He insisted that there 
was no war. He and the Shenandoah's commander sat 
in the Howland's cabin for fifteen or twenty minutes 
arguing the matter. The upshot of the discussion was 
that Capt. Ludlow handed over a big bag of gold, re- 
taining one guinea for luck at Capt. Wardell's sugges- 
tion. Then he went on deck. The boat's crew from 
the privateer had chopped down the railings and 
smashed the sailors' chests. Everything movable and 
inflammable they had piled on deck. They poured tar 
and slush over it. The crew, 35 men in all, had left the 
vessel in their own boats. Wardell and Ludlow stood 
for a minute alone upon the deck. 

" 'Sir,' said the skipper, 'it is a shame to burn such a 
^ beautiful ship as this and all for nothing. There is no 
war. If you set fire to this ship, you will suffer for it.' 

" 'Get into the boat,' said the commander, throwing a 
torch into the rubbish on deck. In ten minutes the 
flames were leaping to the yards. The skipper took a 
last view of his own craft. He glanced at the others, 
and from eight of them he saw jets of flame leaping from 
hatches or dancing above the bulwarks. Nine of the 
fleet were ships of fire. The Confederate had spared 
two, the James Murray of New Bedford, and the Nile of 
New London. Into each of these more than one hun- 
dred and fifty men were crowded. They were the com- 
bined crews of the fleet. 

" 'Take care of yourselves,' said one of the Shenan- 
doah's officers brusquely, and there, barely a cable 
length away from the burning fleet, the two craft lay 
at anchor. There was some quick work at the wind- 
lasses, and in half an hour the two ships made all sail, 



282 MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 

and carried by a light breeze, hove to the southward. 
The Shenandoah dipped her colors in derision and 
steamed toward the x-^rctic seas. She had finished her 
last errand of destruction. 

"Capt. Ludlow was on board of the James Murray. 
There were five or six captains there and 150 men — 
enough to navigate and work any whaler. The course 
was shaped for San Francisco. All day and until the 
following morning, the vessels drifted near the burning 
fleet. Many a time in his old age did the old whaler de- 
scribe that scene. Great forks of flame, blood red, 
tipped with pitchy smoke, shot from holds, filled with 
hundreds of barrels of oil. Explosion followed explo- 
sion. Around the doomed craft the very sea burned. 
Tons of blazing oil rested on the unruffled surface of the 
water. From between starting planks issued jets of 
flame. They grew into roaring pillars of fire. The 
tarred rigging became ropes of fire. Masts and spars 
charred and shrivelled. Yards burned from the iron 
swivels and clattered upon the deck. Released by fire 
from the stays, the masts reeled and fell. Lower de- 
scended the belts of fire and at the dawn of June 29, 
these blackened hulls, circled with dying fires, marked 
where had floated ships which spurned the waves and 
outstripped the wind. The others had burned to the 
water's edge and sunk. 

"Two craft, laden hke slave ships, went to the south. 
On the third day a black hulked, ugly craft bore down 
on them, crossed their track and hastened on. It was 
the Shenandoah. She was on her way to England then. 
The two ships parted company. The Nile went to 
Honolulu, the Murray to San Francisco. Capt. Ludlow 
returned overland to his home and a few months later 
he was at sea again in command of the good ship 
Hihernia, one of the largest of the New Bedford fleet." 

Mr. H. D. Sleight, of Sag Harbor, has kindly fur- 
nished me with the following information which he 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BRWGEHAMFTON 283 

compiled regarding the Sag Harbor whaling fleet, many 
vessels in which will be further mentioned in the next 
chapter. 

Sabina, 416, tons, brought from New York by C. T. 
Bering & Co., in 1844. Capt. Slate had made a whaling 
voyage from New York in the ship in 1841-3, taking oil 
and bone worth $42,000 for Slate, Gardiner & Howell. 
The Sabina first sailed from Sag Harbor June 24, 1844, 
for the Northwest Coast, Capt. David P. Vail; re- 
turned May 24, 1847, with 60 bbl. sperm, 1940 bbl. whale 
oil and 18,000 lbs. whale bone, worth $25,000. The 
Sabina was withdrawn from the fishery in 1847 and 
went to California in 1849, and never returned. 

Huron, whale ship, 290 tons, purchased by Luther D. 
Cook from Hudson, N. Y., in 1840; had previously 
made 2 whaling voyages from that place. The Huron 
made 4 voyages from Sag Harbor, taking oil and bone 
worth $95,000; went to San Francisco in 1849 with a 
cargo of lumber. 

Ann Mary Ann, whale ship, 380 tons, added to Sag 
Harbor fleet in 1842 by Mulford & Sleight; made 2 
voyages out of Sag Harbor, taking oil and bone worth 
$74,000; sold to William R. Sleight who organized a 
company to send her to California, N. R. Bering, mas- 
ter; cargo lumber and brick; ship never returned. 

Cadmus, whale ship, 307 tons, made her first voyage 
out of Sag Harbor 1827; owned by Mulford & Sleight; 
made 15 whaling voyages out of Sag Harbor taking oil 
and bone worth $359,000; sold to a company by Mul- 
ford & Sleight and put into the California speculation, 
1849; never returned. 

Hamilton (the Little), whale ship, so known to dis- 
tinguish her from another of the same name; made her 
first whaling voyage from Sag Harbor Sept. 6, 1836, 
Capt. Jones, Master, C. T. Bering, Agent; made 6 voy- 
ages out of the Harbor taking oil and bone worth $144,- 
000; Oct. 23, 1849, sent to California by her owners. C. 



284 MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMFTON 

T. Bering and others, Capt. Shamgar H. Slate in com- 
mand ; never returned. 

Acasta, whale ship, 286 tons, added to Sag Harbor 
whaling fleet in 1831 by Mulford & Sleight; sold to 
John Budd in 1844; made 13 voyages out of Sag Har- 
bor taking oil and bone worth $275,000; had a bad 
name and was held by sailors to be an unlucky ship. 

Parana-Highland Mary, originally the ^r\g Michael, 209 
tons, abandoned at sea, salved by schooner Draco, built 
in Sag Harbor while latter was on her way to Cali- 
fornia in 1849; name changed to Parana and outfitted 
from Sag Harbor as a whaler; made 6 voyages out of 
the Harbor, taking oil and bone worth $163,000; con- 
demned in 1873 at Tobago Island, S. A.; this left the 
Myra the last of the once famous fleet. 

Salem, whale ship, 407 tons, bought by Mulford & 
Sleight 1844; made 1 voyage taking oil and bone worth 
$25,000; sent to California. 

Panama, whale ship, 464 tons, added to fleet in 1835 
by N. & G. Howell; withdrawn from fishery in 1850; 
condemned at Valparaiso, 1851. 

Thomas Dickinson, whale ship, 454 tons, owned by 
Mulford & Sleight, added to fleet in 1837; made 4 
whaling voyages, taking oil and bone worth $202,000, a 
very successful ship; sold away in 1847. 

Henry Lee, whale ship, 409 tons, owned by S. & B. 
Huntting; added to fleet in 1843; made 2 voyages, tak- 
ing oil and bone worth $71,000. 

Niantic, whale ship, 452 tons, bought by C. T. Bering 
& Co., 1844; made 1 whaling voyage taking oil and 
bone worth $32,000; sold to Warren; went to San 
Francisco, never returned. 

Romulus, whale ship, 233 tons, owned by Mulford & 
Howell; added to fleet, 1837; made 6 whaling voyages, 
taking oil and bone worth $126,000. 

NOTE: See next chapter for additional information as to ships. 



CHAPTER XIII 



THE "FORTY NINERS" 



The story of the discovery of gold in CaHfornia and 
of the ensuing "rush" to that state is well known, and we 
have here to do with it only in its bearings as a local inci- 
dent in the life of our village. That the effect on the 
v/haling industry and whaling ports was immediate and 
profound is clearly brought out in the following notes by 
Mr. H. D. Sleight, which he has kindly given me to re- 
publish.* 

"The year 1849 i^iarked another eventful period in the 
history of the Sag Harbor Whale Fishery. While in 1845 
thirty-five whaling vessels cleared for sea from the port, 
just four years later the shipping firms sent out but two 
vessels on whaling voyages. They were the Concordia and 
the Timor. When the news of gold being found in Cali- 
fornia reached the little maritime port, there was a general 
exodus of the able-bodied men, bent upon reaching the land 
of gold and sunshine and continual pleasure as quick as 
ship could take them. The long voyage around Cape Horn 
or the fever infested route across the Isthmus, had no ter- 

* The facts in regard to "the little Hamilton " were given to me 
by Mr. Henry L. Van Scoy, of East Hampton; the series of letters 
from Mr. Albert Jagger, of Southampton, were procured for me 
by Mr. A. W. Topping; the certificate of stock in the Sabina Com- 
pany loaned me by Mr. Wm. S. Haines, of Hay Ground; and the 
remainder of the chapter is based on facts given me by Mr. H. D. 
Sleight, of Sag Harbor. 



286 MEMORIALS UF OLD BRIDGEHAMFTON 

rors for the bold and intrepid Argonauts. There was but 
one common wish — to make a fortune quickly. From 
Southamipton Town alone over 250 men, daring and ad- 
venturesome, made the long journey to the mines. A fare- 
well sermon was preached to the departing adventurers by 
the Rev. Mr. Copp, pastor of the Presbyterian Church, at 
that time. Whale oil profits and prosperous voyages were 
forgotten in the yellow glare of gold which possessed the 
minds of young and old. The Sag Harbor whale ships 
touching a port between 1849-50 were quickly deserted, the 
crews making a rush for the mines. Alas for the dreams 
of fortune! Many encountered death on the journey west- 
ward, others never returned, some few amassed small earn- 
ings, none realized the riches that had tempted them away 
trom home. Other reverses nearly overwhelmed the weaker 
of the shipping firms in 1849. Even with the serious losses 
of this period, whaling at Sag Harbor would have con- 
tinued more extensively but for one primary reason — men 
to man the ships could not be secured. With the departure 
of the forty niners, the whale fishery of the port practi- 
cally came to a standstill. The ambitious, daring, enter- 
prising manhood of the village had ventured forth and 
but a few determined spirits remained to pursue the haz- 
ardous industry that had built the port and made many of 
the inhabitants wealthy. Years elapsed before Sag Harbor 
recovered from the blow given its prestige by the exodus 
of 1849. 

Of the ships sailing for California, largely owned by 
companies quickly made up for the new speculation and 
carrying so many men from the Hamptons, a list is given 
below. (See Article in 

Iowa 

Sahina 

Huron 

Sierra Nevada 

Cadmus 

Haiitilton (little) 



Correct 


tor, Mar. 


7- ] 


[874.) 


about 


Oct. 


— , 


1848 


cleared 


Feb. 


3. 


1849 


<( 


June 


19' 


1849 


(( 


Aug. 


28, 


1849 


(< 


Oct. 


20, 


1849 


(( 


Oct. 


23' 


1849 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 287 

Ann Mary Ann " Oct. 27, 1849 

Hungarian — Fall of 1849 

Robert Bruce cleared May i, 1850 

San Diego " May 13, 1850 

Acasta " Sept. 14, 1850 

Storm " May 25, 1852 

Amelia " Aug. 12, 1854 

Draco " Aug. 12, 1854 

(returned) 
The Iowa was the pioneer. The Sabina and its company 
will be dealt with at length later, but I will here note that 
"the old ship's bones now lie under the city of San Fran- 
cisco, the harbor having been filled up and the streets and 
wharves extended beyond where she was moored and used 
as a store ship. This is also the case with several others 
of the vessels which reached there. At that time in the ex- 
citement of the gold fever, it was impossible to get crews 
to man vessels, every one being crazed to reach the mines. 
The ships were turned into store houses, stripped and even- 
tually sank out of sight before the obtrusive step of the new 
metropolis." 

The Huron was the old whaler. She was bought by O. 
R. Wade and others and loaded with lumber under com- 
mand of Capt. Geo. H. Corwin, who died shortly after 
reaching California. 

The Sierra Nevada was a schooner built at Sag Harbor 
by Benj. Wade and the first vessel afloat of her name. She 
was commanded by Capt. Lawrence B. Edwards, loaded 
with provisions and lumber, and paid handsomely. She was 
probably one of the fastest vessels of her class ever afloat, 
having made the shortest voyage on record for any sailing 
vessel from Shanghai to San Francisco — 33 days. She was 
sold to the Government for the Revenue Service. 

The Ann Mary Ann was the old whaler, which went to 
California under Capt. N. R. Dering, who never returned 
home and died there in 1874. The ship lay for a long 
time before disposing of her cargo, and her remains still 



288 MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMFTON 

occupy the place of her old moorings. 

The Cadmus was the whaler, and noted as having been 
the ship which brought Lafayette to this country. Like the 
others she was sold for the California speculation, and like 
so many others laid her bones in San Francisco Bay. Capt. 
John W. Fordham, who afterwards died in China, was in 
command. 

The Hamilton (Little), Capt. Shamgar H. Slate, was 
sent out by her old whaling owners, C. T. Bering and 
others. Mr. Henry L. Van Scoy, who sailed in her, has 
given me the following list of passengers and crew, from 
a journal which he kept on the voyage. (Record made Feb. 
4th, 1850.) 



Name 


Residence 


Age (yrs., 


mos., 


dys) 


Shamgar H. Slate, Master 


S. Har. 








James Godbee, 1st Mate 


" 


39 


8 


23 


Erastus Leek, 2d Mate 


« 


34 


8 


9 


Geo. Smith, Cooper 


.. « 


. 30 


7 


13 


Geo. Terry, Carpenter 


« 


37 


2 


29 


John Miller 


E. H. 


41 


10 


24 


John Harrison 


S. Har. 


39 


11 


19 


Henry Loper 


« 


31 


7 


29 


Dan'l Smith 


" 


21 


5 


13 


Edwin Bills (living 1916) 


" 


23 


6 


18 


Abraham Leek 


Amag. 


30 


7 


27 


Thos. Wallace, Cooper 


S. Har. 


25 


10 


25 


Bymael Reeves, Cooper 


(1 


26 


5 


24 


Wm. Haynes 


Bridge. H. 


26 


3 


14 


Stephen Gawley 


S. Har. 


21 


10 


9 


Elisha Cannon, caulker 


« 


38 


9 


7 


Job Webb, steward 


« 


39 


7 


27 


Nathan Fordham, cabin boy 


« 


21 


4 


6 


Silas Sherman, passenger 


Amag. 


42 


11 


24 


Chas. Glover, " 


S. Har. 


27 


11 


22 


Wm. H. Strong, 


Amag. 


27 


10 


13 


Henry L. Van Scoy, " (living 


) East H. 


23 


3 


23 


Thos. Overton, " 


S. Har. 


30 


3 


13 


Geo. W. Schellinger, " 


Amag. 


23 


3 


27 


Edwin Foster, 


South H. 


30 


1 


9 


Jacob Gallager, 


. « 


25 


8 


4 


Alexander Selkirk, col'd cook 


S. Har. 


20 


7 


27 


(his real name was Alexa 


nder Halsey.) 









The ship sailed Oct. 25, 1849. arrived San Francisco 
Mar. 14, 1850, never touching land except at Robinson 
Crusoe's Island (Juan Fernandez). At that island a boat's 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 289 

crew went ashore Jan. 28, 1850, and reported the inhabi- 
tants as 6 men, 3 women and 3 children. 

The brig Hungarian was built in Huntting's yard, North 
Haven, and was a crack vessel, hermaphrodite rigged, sharp 
model, long, low, rakish, and commanded by Capt. Har- 
wood. 

The Robert Bruce was a schooner, also built at Hunt- 
ting's yard, commanded by Capt. Richard J. Nichols. The 
^enture was a successful one. 

The San Diego was a small schooner, 68 tons, built by 
JBenj. Wade. She was commanded by Capt. Jared Wade, 
owned by a company, and was loaded with provisions. The 
vessel, although small, was a good sea boat, and reached 
Cape Horn in 73 days. There, meeting with foul weather, 
she was blown back and went through the Straits of Ma- 
gellan. The trip to San Francisco ^yas made in 7 months, 
and she was then sold on the Pacific coast. 

The Storm was a fine ship, built in the Cove (Sag Har- 
bor) by Benj. Wade and others. She was sold in New 
York at a great sacrifice, the builders having become in- 
volved, and sailed from New York, but cleared from Sag 
Harbor. Before her register she was called the Line Gale. 

The Amelia was built on West Water Street, Sag Har- 
bor, by Willis & Co. and bought by Willets and O. R. 
Wade, who sent her, sailing from New York, to San Fran- 
cisco w*ith an assorted cargo. 

The Draco was a schooner in which J. & E. Smith and 
Thomas Brown were interested. She cleared for Cali- 
fornia, but returned without making the voyage, having 
picked up the brig Parana and salved her off the Brazilian 
coast. 

The Salem, the Thojuas Dickinson, and Henry Lee, all 
large and crack ships, were also sold to California compa- 
nies in other places. The Panama (belonging to the 
Howells of Sag Harbor) cleared from New York, coal 
laden, but came into Gardiner's Bay leaking, and was said 
to be there July 4, 1850. Apparently she never reached 



290 MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 

San Francisco, but was condemned in Talcahuano or Val- 
paraiso. The Thames, T. Brown, Agent, Capt. Wm. Payne. 
Master, on a whaling voyage in the Pacific, went into San 
Francisco, having upwards of 2000 bbl. of oil on board. 
Capt. Payne was relieved by Capt. Theron Worth, and 
the oil and vessel sold there. The ship Romulus, Capt. 
Jones Rogers, also went there. 

The ship Niantic was sold in Warren, went on a whaling- 
voyage, but brought up in San Francisco, and her bones lie 
under that city, the Niantic Hotel standing over her skel- 
eton ( 1874). The whale ship Fanny was sold to Nantucket 
and the Oscar to Mattapoiset, both for speculation in Cali- 
fornia. 

The ship Sabina was purchased by "The Southampton 
c'nd California Mining and Trading Company," which was 
made up of men mainly from Sag Harbor and the Hamptons 
and in regard to this company and voyage I have been able 
to gather much information. 

The company was apparently capitalized at $30,000, 
there being 60 shares of $500 each. Mr. Wm. S. Haines 
kindly loaned me his father's original certificate of stock, 
which very possibly is now the only one left. It reads as 
follows : "Certificate. 

vScrip. No. 14. $500. One share. 

Office of the 

Southampton and California 

Mining and Trading Company. 

This certifies that Wm. C. Haines has paid into the Treas- 
ury of "The Southampton and California Mining and 
Trading Company," the sum of Five Hundred Dollars, 
which entitles him to one Share of Stock in said company, 
and the payments and dividends to become due thereon, 
under the provisions of the Constitution of said company, 
adopted January 15th, 1849; payable to said Wm. C. Haines 
his heirs, assigns or legal representatives. Dated at Sag 
Piarbor, Suffolk County, N. Y., this 20th day of January, 
A. D. 1849. [Signed]' A. J. Tabor. Secretary." 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 291 

Of the 60 Stockholders, 50 went to CaHfornia on board 
of her, and 10 sent substitutes. Among those who sailed 
were 19 whaling captains. Below is a list of all those on 
board, taken from the Corrector of Feb. 14, 1849. 

"Stockholders — Henry Green, Nathan H. Dimon, Charles 
Howell, Barney R. Green, David Hand, Albert Rogers, Al- 
bert Jagger, Isaac Sayre, Jr., Henry Webb, Wm. C. Haynes, 
John Van Votchen, James Parker, Wm. H. Post, Peter H. 

Howell, Wm. Post, David H. Hand, McCleve, Wm. 

S. Denison, Edw. W. Halsey, Edw. H. White, John Wood- 
ward, Isaac S. Van Scoy, Chas. N. Green, Thos. E. War- 
ren, Henry Rhodes, G. H. Burnett, Samuel B. Halsey, 
Schuyler B. Halsey, Lafayette Ludlow, Austin Jagger, J. 
K. Field, Louis Jagger, D. B. Glover, John D. Green, J^tur 
F. Reeves, Wm. White, Edwin B. Isham, Thos. L. Mc- 
Elrath, A. H. Sanford, Jedediah Conklin, Jas. Case, Louis 
Sanford, Wm. T. Horton, Albert Hildreth, Doyle Sweeney, 
Wm. Halsey, A. J. Tabor, Wm. W. Tinker, Saltor S. Hor- 
ton, J. Lamphere Dodge. 

"Substitutes— Thos. P. Ripley, Jr., Thos. J. Glover, John 
H. Cook, Augustus Ludlow, Wm. W. Parker, Geo. Her- 
rick, Andrew L. Edwards, Jas. Rogers, John B. Crook. 

"Passengers — C. N. Hatch, Theo. H. Wood, Horatio 
Rogers, Chas. Seely. Geo. Howell, C. N. Howell. John R. 
Mills, N. B. Rogers. 

"Crew — Henry Green, Master; Henry Rhodes, Mate; 
Thos. E. Warren, 2d Mate; Franklin C. Jessup, Wm. L. 
Huntting, Job Hedges, Alphonse Boardman, Geo. W. Post, 
Pyrrhus Concer (colored), John Kellas, Daniel Howell, 
Nath. Post. Chas. Crook, Jas. E. Glover, Robt. E. Gardi- 
ner, Stephen B. French, Watson C. Coney, x\bsalom G. 
Griffing, John W. Hull, and Wm. S. Bellows." 

Besides those already mentioned in one connection or an- 
other as being in California, I may here add the names of 
others whom I have found to have also gone there — S. 
White (So. H.), Capt. Roice (So. H.), Wm. French (So. 
H.), Eli Fordham (So. H.). Geo. Shaw (Sag H.), Wm. 



292 MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMFTON 

Topping (B. ?), Geo. Sayre (So. H.), Wm. Penny (So. 
II.), John Marshall, Wm. Allen, "Mr. Ross of Shelter 
Island," Howell Corwith (So. H.), Wm. Fordham (B.), 
i\tistin Lewis, C. Bishop (So. H), J. H. Fields, Peter 
Reeves, Elihu Pierson (B.), Samuel Hildreth (B.), Daniel 
Howell (B.), Philetiis Halsey (B.), Geo. Rogers (B.), 
John A. Sanford (B.), and Jas. L. Sanford (B.). 

The Sahina sailed from Greenport "late Wednesday, the 
7th" [Feb., 1849]. Of the voyage and subsequent experi- 
ences in California, we have preserved a rather unique rec- 
ord in a series of 15 letters written during the years 1849-51, 
by Mr. Albert Jagger of Southampton, which were found 
some years ago in the attic of the Jagger home in that vil- 
lage, carefully wrapped in the original canvas bag in which 
Mr. Jagger had sent his gold dust home from California. 
At my request I have been allowed to make extracts from 
this series, which are not only of great local interest, but 
of historical value. On account of lack of space I have 
had to leave out much interesting material which I greatly 
regret, both on account of the matter and because the easy 
flow of the original narrative is thus interrupted. Without 
further introduction I quote from the letters, full of allu- 
sions to Hampton men. 

"South Atlantic Ocean, Mar. 29-Apl. i, 1849. 
. . . We did not leave Greenport until late on Wednes- 
day the 7th [Feb. 7, 1849]. We sailed down into the Bay 
and a boat was sent to Shelter Island after Tom Ripley, 
J. Sayre's clerk at Sag Harbor . . . The crew got wet 
in going ashore & the most of them froze their hands, con- 
sequently did not reach the ship until about 4 o'clock next 
morning. Pyrrhus froze both hands badly the same nighi 
throwing the lead. The wdnd was fair & had it not been 
for the absence of our boat should have left . . . and 
thus possibly avoided a very severe gale which overtook 
us on Monday night while in the gulf & threatened the de- 
struction of our leaky ship . 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 293 

To make it easy for the crew, watches by mutual consent 
had been chosen from the Co., who took their turns in work- 
ing the ship & at the pumps regularly. On the night afore- 
said, my watch closed at lo, the wind was blowing strong 
from the S. E., the sails were closely reefed. About 2, the 
Capt. called for all hands that could do anything. One of 
the pumps had choked up with coal & had become unman- 
ageable, soon the other failed from the same cause. The 
v^ater in the hold at this time was from 3 to 4 feet. All 
sails were taken in & the Ship hove round to the wind. 
The larboard quarter boat was taken from the cranes by a 
heavy sea & several of the upper spars were lost overboard 
& the foresail. We looked upon our situation as critical. 
The ship is a good sailor & a very good seaboat but she was 
by no means fit for the sea when we sailed. When the 
weather has been rough we have had to pump from 1200 
to 2000 strokes per hour to keep her free. Whenever it 
has been moderate enough to caulk, stayes have been rigged 
cut & men at work filling up the seams with oacum & white- 
lead. Machinery has been fixed by which the pumps are 
both worked together by 8 or 10 men — this makes the labor 
much easier. 

It is generally supposed that below the copper the Ship is 
tight for the caulking that has already been done has made 
nearly the difference of half in pumping. After the gale had 
subsided, the sails were again put out & the ship headed for 
the Cape de Verde for repairs; but on account of head 
winds she fell to the leeward & could not make them. We 
2 re now near St. Catharine's . . . We have seen a 
considerable many sails in the distance, but have spoken 
only two — One was a French ship, the other was the 
Schooner John Allen from N. Bedford for the "Gold dig- 
gins" with 25 men on board 

There has been no serious accident to any on board ex- 
cept Dan'l Howell who, on the 5th of March, providen- 
tially escaped with his life. The main top sail yard was 
found to be defective & in getting it down in order to send 



294 MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMFTON 

up a new one, the lift fell from aloft, in which was set an 
i'"on thimble and struck him nearly upon the top of his 
head 

We have seen several species of Whales since we have 
been out — Saw a school of sperm whales, say from lo to 
15, which was on Sunday. Blackfish, Grampusses, Por- 
poises, Skipjacks &c have frequently been seen. We have 
not been able to get any fish to eat since we have been out 
except a few flying fish & one Dolphin that came on board 
m the night of their own accord. We have a first rate cook 
but he seasons altogether too high for weak stomachs . . . 
The Co. are divided off into 5 messes & have a steward for 
each miess. In the cabin are H. Green & Son John, Capt. 
Parker, Capt. Haynes, Dr. Dodge, Wm. Parker, S. Har- 
bour, Wm. T. Horton, Southold, & myself — so much for 
drawing a berth in the cabin. My roommate was offered 
$5 by Capt. Rogers to exchange with him but it was re- 
fused. We are very much lumbered up with baggage & 
ship stores; but are as comfortable as can be expected. For 
the last 3 weeks the weather has been hot, the thermometer 
ranging from 80° to 90° a considerable part of the time. 
We hope soon to be where the climate will be the opposite. 
We have had meetings every Sabbath since we sailed & for 
the most part upon the evenings of that day. There are on 
board some wild boys ... I will assure you & if they 
don't spree it some before they return, then they don't, that's 
all . . . We hope to reach San Francisco by the 4th 
of July . . . There is a ship in sight bearing down on 
us & has the appearance of being a whaler & I must close 
this up. 

April 1st. The Ship referred to would not speak us. 
She came within about 3^ mile & put off as if afraid of our 
numbers. 9 P. M. We are now in company with a Nan- 
tucket ship & have news direct from Sandwich Id. of a 
very encouraging character respecting Gold in California. 
He also showed us a whaling list of reports. I see the Ann 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 295 

reported with 1650. We send our letters by this Ship to 
Rio as he is expecting to go in about 10 davs. 

St. Catharine's, April nth, 1849. 

We arrived here on Thursday the 5th and have 
been anchored at quarantine ever since — our time expires 
to-night. The greater part of the Co. however have been 
en shore trading for fruit of different kinds . 
There are 3 Schooners & 2 Ships lying near us, all bound 
to Cal. One left here on Sunday for the same place. The 
Geo. Washington from N. Y. is here with 130 passengers. 
The Stafford has 100, she too is from N. Y. There has 
been a fracas on board two nights in succession. Night be- 
fore last we were alarmed with the cry of murder — yes- 
terday morning we heard that the mate had some difficulty 
with one of the hands & the Capt. interfered & 
the man stabbed him & then jumped overboard. 
They sent a boat after him & then tied him up 
& flogged him. We heard that he was to be sent home 
by Rio. I was on board the Pomona from N. Bedford yes- 
terday & saw some Gold that was given them from the 
Flora of N. London. They spoke her a few days from 
this place bound home. The particulars you probably have 
seen published. They had a shipped crew over which they 
had to look with a keen eye, constantly in fear that they 
v/ould rise upon them & take the ship . 

W> anticipate a rough passage around the Cape, but the 
Ship will be in a better condition for rough weather than 
when we left home. " Her seams upon examination were 
found to be very open. Capt. Barney [Green] remarked 
yesterday that it was lucky for us that she did not water 
log in the gale that we had just after we left. Thus far 
we have made our own repairs & are expecting to finish 
caulking today . . . The health of our Co. continues 
good. Those who were seasick about a month now look 
as fat & plump asmidshipmen. 



296 MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 

Now, I suppose you would like to know how we get along 
?s to our fare on board the Ship. Why, generally we have 
something to eat & that which is pretty good, to be sure. 
For breakfast, codfish & potatoes — corn bread, meat & po- 
tatoes, hash & fried ham. Dinner, boiled rice, Apple duff. 
Bean porridge, Pea soup. Chicken soup. Tea, cold meat, 
butter cheese & about once a week, raised warm biscuit 
Capt. Rogers has just come in & wants me to go 
ni the boat to town. The crew are Wm. H. Post, Peter 
Howell, Geo. Burnett, Edward White & I have pretty much 
concluded to go . . . 

North Pacific Ocean, August 6th, 1849. 

We are now near the port of our destination & 
tl' rough the Kind Providence of God have been preserved 
trom any serious accidents 

When I closed up my last letter I broke off suddenly to 
prepare myself for Town . . . The City was one of 
the most filthy, immoral & indecent places I ever was in. 
I'he second night after we left, there were several killed 
in a fight between the Am;ericans and Portugese, one of 
which was a passenger on the Geo. Washington. She was 
expecting to have sailed in company with us but the Capt. 
was detained in consequence of the difficulty mentioned 
above. His name was Hilliard, an old acquaintance of 
Capt. Green's. While at anchor we were alarmed about 
the middle of the night with the report of a Pistol & the 
cry of murder from the bark Stafford. They subseciuently 
cut off all communication from other vessels & it is sup- 
posed that one of their number was killed & to prevent the 
seizure & detention of the Ship by the Consul this mode was 
adopted . . . [Thos. McElrath left the Sabina at this 
port.] 

We left there the 19th of May; thence to Staten 
Island (which is nearly up with Cape Horn). We had a 
long & boisterous passage having to take in sail several 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BKIDGEHAMPTON 297 

times & lay to almost under bare poles. We were all very 
much disappointed in doubling the Cape, for there, above 
all other places, we expected head winds & rough weather; 
but without detention we were soon heading in a contrary 
direction, having exchanged the Atlantic scenery for that 
of the Pacific which is not very dissimilar, I can assure you, 
being on board of the same Ship, the same Co. & the same 
pursuits. 

We have seen whales frequently of different species, 
sperm have been the most numerous. The quarter boat has 
been lowered several times, in calm weather to chase Black 
fish & the only one that was killed, sunk. 

We were at Robinson Crusoe's Island [Juan Fernandez] 
the 1 2th of June, when we got a raft of 80 bbl. which lasted 
us about 30 days. It was the most wild & romantic spot 
almost of which the mind can imagine. The Island was 
once used as a place of banishment for female convicts from 
the coast of Chili; but is now the place of 15 voluntary ex- 
iles, men, women & children, hardly any two of which were 
from the same country. One was a Yankee from the State 
of Maine, about 28 years. The fish were very abundant 
near shore. We fished with hooks for an hour or two & 
caught 85, several kinds of which resembled those caught in 
the waters of L. I. Upon the Island were wild Horses, 
Goats, Hogs, Pigeons &c. The only supply of fresh pro- 
visions that we obtained from the shore was one bag of 
potatoes & a few wild radish tops. I am very anxious to 
get where we can have vegetables again. I eat but very 
little meat. Some of it is very good & some is not. The 
Sag Harbor hams are nearly spoiled. They were salted 
without taking out the bones & the greater part of them had 
turned more or less blue before they were opened & besides 
that they smelled rather stale. 

Our Ship has become comparatively tight to what she 
was before we went into port. After the Southeast trades 
left us, the winds were very light until we ran as far North 
as 18°. & then we took the winds from the North which 



298 MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 

lasted with us with the exception of sHght variations until 
we arrived opposite the entrance of San Francisco Bav 
. The weather [in the vicinity of Cape Horn] was 
cold & stormy & more than half the crew were off duty sick. 
We had no conveniences for making fires & to keep anyway 
comfortable we had to go to bed & put on a plenty of 
covering. 

I miust tell you how the 4th of July was observed. A 
meeting was held nearly a week previous at which a Marshall 
& 5 Assistant Marshalls were chosen to make arrangements, 
prepare the toasts, select the pieces to be sung &c. The 
morning was one of the most delightful of the month. An 
awning was spread over the greater part of the deck, a plat- 
form was raised for the speaker, Mr. A. H. San ford of 
Southold & seats for the singers & musicians & then for 
the whole Ship's Co. The lower hold was broken into for a 
pipe of gin which was found to be mostly leaked out. A 
table was spread nearly the length of the deck at which 
all sat down except the cook & stewards. The bill of fare 
consisted of fresh Porpoise in different styles, salt Pork 
& Beef, hard & soft bread, plum Puddings together with 
several kinds of pies. After partaking of these the regular 
^ volunteer Toasts (which were many in number) were 
drunk — cold water, Lemonade, Cider, wine, Gin & Brandy 
were the drinks used upon the occasion. After the table 
was removed music & dancing was joined in by that part 
of the Ship's Co. who had a taste for it. I was surprised 
to see some of our oldest men dance so well . . . Dur- 
ing this part of the performance, a paper came out edited 
by John H. Green called the Pacific News which was full 
of fun . . . After tea 11 Ethiopians, musicians, sing- 
ers & performers presented themselves agreable to notice 
& entertained the Co. until about 9^ when they began to 
file off & retire to bed. 

For several weeks past the mind has been upon the stretch 
in anticipating our arrival in Cal. & also getting the neces- 
sary work done before our arrival. Several different kinds 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 299 

of Goldwashers have been made — a large & small scow, the 
f:rst of which Capt. G. thinks will carry 25 tons — also a 
variety of other articles too numerous to mention . 
San Francisco, Aug. loth 1849. We arrived at this place 
yesterday . . . The 8th a boat's crew went ashore from 
the Ship, saw wild cattle & horses. Deer Seals, Ducks &c. 
This place is unlike anything I have ever seen before . . . 

The harbour on account of the amount of shipping & the 
hurry & bustle witnessed resembled N. Y. on the Pacific, 
T can assure you. The City is much larger than I expected 
to see. I have no idea of the amount of its inhabitants. 
They seem to be coming & going all the time & every nook 
(i corner is full of as heterogeneous a mass as almost ever 
congregated together. The place extends about i^ 
[miles?] along the Bay & about half the distance back. The 
buildings are of the frailest & cheapest kind. A great many 
firms carry on business under large tents. I should think 
thefts might be frequent when property was left thus ex- 
posed, but it is said that robberies are seldom committed. 
As to Gold & Silver it is almost as plenty as sand is with 
you. You see by the papers how prices range. Some ar- 
ticles on account of their plentifulness in market are already 
cheaper than they are in the States, but other articles sell 
for more than 5 times their prime cost. Gambling is carried 
on in a wholesale manner. Wm. Allen cheered us as we 
passed the ship he was in (the Sylph of N. B.) . . . 

New York [Cal.] Sunday evening Alig. 12th. We came 
to this place yesterday with the Shi^) — got aground when 
near the harbour. Today we have lightened her & put out 
two anchors & hauled her oiff. This place is 45 miles from 
San Francisco at the head of Ship navigation. The Sabina 
is the first ship up this far . . . It is a place just laid 
ofif at the junction of the Sacramento & Sanjoakin. We 
shall probably divide & go up both rivers in a few days 

Tell Mr. Dunster that if to make money is his object it 
can be made verv fast here — common laborers get $8 pr. 



300 MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 

day, Carpenters $15 & $18, Seamen $150 pr. month. Geo. 
Sayre, Jehial's son has been at work for that price he told 
me. Gold is not as abundant, it is said, as 5 or 9 months 
ag[o, but by close application it is made profitable. I cannot 
tell what the average is. Some say an ounce a day. Mr. 
Woodbridge is at Stockton, 45 or 50 miles up the San 
Joakin. We went ashore today & held a meeting. The 
Revd. Mr. Smith from Mass. invited us ashore for that 
purpose . . . Wednesday 15th. The Co. held a meet- 
ing today to transact some important business. We are told 
that but one Co. has held together & I should not be sur- 
prised if we disbanded before the expiration of the time 
specified in the Const. We have got through stripping the 
Ship pretty well & shall probably start as soon as Monday 
for the diggins. Where my station will be I know not. 
The work is represented to be of the hardest kind, but peace 
& order are observed by the miners & men's rights are re- 
spected. The business is said to be a healthy one . 
We have over 100 miles to go by water & then one day's 
journey by land. The ground is so precipitous that it is 
with great difficulty that supplies are transported. Almost 
every thing they say sells for a dollar a pound at the mines, 
in San Francisco one of our Co. paid $6 for a dinner but it 
was an oyster stew. 

New York of the Pacific, Jan. 23, 1850. 

Mr. J. Conklin of Sag Harbor is expecting to 
leave in a few days for home . . . Mr. Warren & 
George Burnet have come down to the Ship & will prob- 
ably stay until the weather makes right for them to return 
to the mines which will likely not be before April . 
They speak well of the diggins where they were upon Deer 
Creek . . . Capt. Howell did not go in the Albany but 
is here & messes with A. Rogers . . . Capt. B. R. 
Green has gone mate of the Ship Washington to Sandwich 
Islands & from thence to China & home . . . Peter 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 301 

Howell has gone 2d mate & D. F. Parker & Isaac Van Scoy 
of Sag Harbor also in the same ship . 

Sales have been dull at the Ship for a few weeks past 
but we think when the spring opens it will be brisk again. 
Stephen Halsey & Co. have arrived at San Francisco . . , 
Mr. Ross, who once ran a stage across Shelter Island is 
here sick and to appearances near his end. He came out in 
the Iowa . . . The sick of our Co. who are at the Ship 
are all better & able to do for themselves. The messes are 
as follows : Capt. G & Son, 2d Capt. Parker, Capt. Halsey 
& Isham, 3d Capts. Howell & Rogers, 4th Rhodes & J. 
Rogers, 5th Mr. Conklin, Sam'l Halsey & Geo. Burnet, 6th 
Mr. Warren, A. Hildreth, & Spencer Sayre, 7th Sandford 
& Jagger. Comers & goers have to crowd in where they 
can get the best chance. 

I am sorry to hear of the anticipated departure of so 
many from our town for California. I fear if they do not 
lose their lives or health, they will [nevertheless] regret it. 
O'here are already many in the country who are not doing 
&s well as they might at home. If any one does remarkably 
v-zell it is known & told & the facts in the case exaggerated., 
but those who make a failure of it, are among those who 
are not reported. There is Gold here pretty plenty & no 
mistake, but where one makes a fortune at mining, nine 
others will fail at it & they make as much of an effort to 
secure it (so I am told) as the one who is successful . 
There are so many of our Co. starting for home that you 
v.'ill get all the news I expect & more too . 

New York of the Pacific. March 20th. 1850. 

. Just think of it, representatives from almost 
every part of the globe; every hue of face & character al- 
most; but the state of morals is not as low as one might 
imagine. There is said to be more justice than law exer- 
cised over the community. Gold, gold, gold, is the topic of 
conversation among all classes & conditions . 



302 MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 

We have a large inventory still in the Ship to be dis- 
posed of. There is about $5000 in cash on hand. The 
party at the Ship is large, mostly from Southampton. In 
addition to our own Co. we have Lewis Howell, Stephen 
Jagger, Albert Halsey, Stephen Halsey, Howell Corwith, 
William Fordham & William Foster. They are waiting for 
the weather to change so they can start for the mines . . . 
Capt. Wm. Post & Wm. White have been to the ship nearly 
a week . . . Capt. L. Ludlow & brother we have just 
heard from. Austin Lewis & J. H. Fields were probably 
in the same neighborhood. Peter Reeves started with them 
but died on the way out & was buried at Mormon Island 
I have written to S. B. Halsey's widow & Edward 
H. White's widow . . . Mr. Ross died a few days 
?fter Mr. Conklin left . . . 

San Francisco, March 24th. 1850. 

Business has very unexpectedly called me to this place. 
This is the Sabbath. I am at the house of my room mate 
is! write you a few hasty lines. We went to hear the Revd. 
Mr. Williams preach this morning. His subject was the 
prosperity and declination of the Christian, his text the 3 
Epistle of John 2d verse. The congregation were assem- 
bled in the basement of the Custom House & the seats were 
nearly all filled with well dressed & attentive listeners, mostly 
gentlemen from 18 to 50. A small sprinkling of ladies, say 
about a dozen . . . [Notes death of John Crook of 
Hog Neck and Dan'l B. Glover of Southold.] As a Co. 
death has broken into our ranks frequently. Few have been 
so unfortunate. The Henry Lee of 130 has lost 11. The 
Jacob M. Ryerson has lost one sixth of her Co. We have 
just heard that one of the sail boats that we brought out & 
sold was upset & 4 persons drowned & about $12,000 in 
money lost ... I was on board of the Hamilton last 
evening. You will undoubtedly hear of the mutiny on board 
the Sheffield on her passage out . . . The Cadmus & 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 303 

Ann Mary Ann are looked for soon. It is astonishing what 
an amount of shipping there is in this port at present. I 
think I never saw as many ships in N. York at one time 
as may now be seen here. Large ships will not sell for as 
much as a boat that will carry lo or 15 tons. The destruc- 
tion of property here in various ways is very great. If a 
person wants an article he will give a great price for it, 
but if he don't want it, you can't give it to him. Clothing 
is plenty & cheap. Loads of it may be seen thrown into 
the street when perhaps it has not been worn more than a 
week or two & can buy new nearly as cheap as to have their 
dirty ones washed . . . One of our best customers at 
the Ship has recently committed suicide . . . Produce 
is plenty & cheap. Lumber selling as low as $35 per Thou- 
sand. The Cadmus Co. must sink money like ourselves. 
The best they can do will be to disband. These companies 
are unfortunate concerns . 

New York of the Pacific. April 7th. 1850. 

The company held a meeting last week ... and 
ordered the Ship to San Francisco & the effects to be sold 
within 30 days after. Mr. Sandford & Capt. Green were 
appointed agents to settle the concern. He [Capt. G.] 
seemed to be anxious that Mr. S & myself should be ap- 
pointed . . . but I had mjade previous arrangements to 
go to the mines & had bought a tent & a considerable part 
of my outfit & my partner, Wm. Parker, brother to John 
Parker the merchant of Sag Harbor, had been waiting sev- 
eral weeks . . . Capt. Wm. C. Haynes proposes to be 
at 1/3 the expenses of the outfit & live with us & work by 
himself . . . The greater part of the Co. have already 
gone to the mines. Those remaining are Mr. Rhodes, Capt. 
Howell, Spencer Sayre, one company ; Capt. Parker & Lewis 
Howell another & are probably waiting for Mr. Payne to 
return to make a third partner . . . Albert Hildreth, 
Capt. Green & son Charles, Albert & James Rogers, Mr. 



304 MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMFTON 

Sand ford, Capt. Haynes, Wm. M. Parker & the under- 
signed. From the representations made by Capt. Post & 
Wm. White the most of us have concluded to go to the 
Rough & Ready diggins in the neighborhood of Deer & 
Bear Creek . 

The country where gold exists is filling up fast with Yan- 
kees & almost every other nation & I am exceedingly anxious 
to get there & make a claim before the whole mining district 
is taken up. The word is, still they come 

The Ship is now hauled off into the stream waiting a 
fair wind to go down to San Francisco. We have been 
c|uite busy the past week in getting up anchors which were 
badly fouled, bending sails & landing goods, taking an in- 
ventory of what remains &c. . . . Capt. Parker, Mr. 
L. Howell, A. Rogers & Capt. Haynes, Parker & Jagger 
expect to buy a whaleboat, take their effects into it & put 
up the river as soon as we can get ready ... I doubt 
whether a county in the U. S. A. in proportion to its popula- 
tion has sent more representatives to Cal. than old Suffolk. 

April 17. We have today been buying lumber with which 
to build a boat to go up the River. Capt. Howell, Mr. 
Rhodes, Spencer Sayre, Capt. Haynes, Parker & Jagger 
think of going to the Rough & Ready diggins. Capt. Parker, 
L. Howell, & Capt. Rogers expect to go higher up upon the 
Tiber . . . The wind has been ahead ever since we 
hauled the ship off & no pilot & no way provided to get her 
down. The boards for a boat we bought of Mr. Eaton 
who contracted to build the church in Southampton. Thurs- 
day evening i8th. Mr. Payne arrived here this morning. 
Came in the Tennessee. He left the rest of the Co. upon 
the Isthmus waiting for the Sarah Sands . . . Capt. 
Payne, Wm. M. Parker & myself saved a man from drown- 
ing today. He fell from the steamer Governor Dana. He 
forgot to thank us being considerably chilled and fatigued. 
We have heard by Capt. Payne of the death of Capt. Geo. 
Corwin at San Francisco. He came out master of the 
Huron, S. Harbour. 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 305 

Wolf Creek, Cal, June 19th, 1850. 

. . . It is a kind of broken day with me which af- 
fords me a Httle leisure time to write & here in the moun- 
tainous part of Cal. under the shade of a large pine, seated 
upon the ground with a tin pan in my lap for a desk I have 
com,menced to write an epistle . . . This forenoon I 
was out on a short prospecting tour with Mr. Warren 
in search for new diggins ... I am now try- 
ing to make a mess of soup; so you see we Calif ornians 
have to be our own cooks, tailors, cobblers, washerwomen, 
nurses &c &c. . . . We had a long passage up the 
River owing to the strong head current. We went first to 
Nevada City upon Deer Creek & after looking around a 
few days thought it best to turn a section of the River 
about two miles above the town which we afterwards put 
out to Wm. French & Eli Fordham for 1/3 of the net pro- 
ceeds. . . . Our Co. is composed at present of 7 men, 
viz. Henry Loper, Daniel Smith, John Petty, Job Hedges, 
Capt. Wm. Haynes, Wm. M. Parker & the undersigned, all 
Suffolk Co. men. We next moved over to Grass Valley 
where Capt. Post & Wm. White spent the winter & as Job 
& myself washed out in two days about $50 we thought to 
be sure we were on the road to wealth but we soon ran the 
lead out . . . Next was Bear River about 15 miles 
distant, where Capt. Post, Geo. Burnet, Stephen Jagger, 
John Cook, Capt. Edward Halsey & E. B. Isham had gone. 
Only 3 are now at work there . . . Capt. Haines & D. 
Sntith have started to the North Uber thinking it to be our 
last resort. . . . The Greens, Capt. Parker & Son, Lewis 
Howell, Capt. Payne, Capt. Rogers, Edwin Halsey, Wm. 
Topping & Geo. Sayre & others are camped about ^ mile 
trom us . . . Their success thus far has been about on an 
average with ours. Capt. Howell, H. Rhodes, & Spencer 
Sayre stopped at Gold Run & I believe are there still . . . 
One boat we could not sell & we left her at the town of 



306 MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 

Nicholas thinking that we might go down in her when we 
?re ready to return. . . . 

The Indians have been very troublesome & dangerous & 
now as a treaty has been made with them we hope for peace 
& safety. The Whites I think have been far more to blame 
than the Indians as they (many of them) would shoot them 
down like wolves or bears whenever they would come across 
them & now as they have retaliated in showing hostility to 
the Whites a war of extermination is the motto of too 
many . . . June 23d. . . . We have found bet- 
ter diggins & have moved our Long Tout (a machine for 
washing) . . . Men now resort considerably to steal- 
ing. Rhodes & Spencer Sayre have had stolen from them 
about $80 each. I saw a man flogged a few days ago for 
stealing a mule — 30 lashes upon his naked back were put 
in . . . 

Bear River. Cal. August 25th 1850. 

On the 4th of July we dissolved partnership & 
Haynes, Parker & myself have been working together ever 
since . . . The mining districts are fast filling up with 
emigrants who have just come in from the States across 
the plains . . . We have heard that Capt. Rogers & 
Wm. Payne left the mines for the States more than a month 
since . . . Spencer is at Rough & Ready diggins. I 
hope a fortune will attend him for his perseverance . 
We have heard that the dividend from the Sabina is $350 
pr. share [and] that [Capt. Green] has bought [her] that 
cost us $8000 for $1150. 

Bear River, Nov. 3d, 1850. 

Haynes & Parker left for the southern mines 
via San Francisco about the middle of Sept. I thought it 
too early for dry diggins & concluded to remain 
Soon after they left, I joined with Capt. Edward W. Halsey 
& E. B. Isham & we have done first rate & have now con- 
cluded to spend the winter at or near Grass Valley . 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 307 

Centre ville, Nov. lo. . . . We have been at work upon 
our house ever since we have been here. It stands within 
lo rods of Capt. Post's. We finished it last night. It is 
13 X 15. Two small windows or rather air holes, which are 
so small that a man cannot crawl into them. A chimney 
vvith stone back & jambs & sticks & mud above. Dirt floor. 
We have about ^ doz. shelves put up — the table, benches 
& other furniture we shall make up evenings or stormy days 
. . . The house has not cost us quite $50 out of pocket 
<v we think we shall be much more comfortable than we 
should be in a tent . . . We had a hard time packing 
over. For the first 3 or 4 miles the road was rough & dan- 
gerous & we had the mule down 3 times . . . Just be- 
fore we left an Indian & white man were shot about lYi, 
or 2 miles from us. The white man received the Indian 
into his tent & they drank together. He became tired of 
his company & told him, to "vamoise" but he would not. He 
told him if he did not he would shoot him. The Indian 
soon began to move off however, & the white man drew up 
his rifle & shot him dead. He then endeavored to make his 
escape, but the Indians mustered & pursued after him & 
killed him. 

It is astonishing to see the change that has taken place 
here since I left only a little more than 4 months since. 
Then perhaps there were from 10 to 15 houses scattered 
around the valley. Now I think it possible that there are 
between 100 & 150. There are 2 nine pin alleys & a large 
Hotel & grog shops & stores in abundance . . . John 
White & Wm. [White] together with Charles Howell have 
gone to the Sandwich Islands ... J. Rogers has 
started in business in San Francisco . 

San Francisco, Jan. 14th, 1851. 

. . . The night before Christmas a ball was held in 
the town [Grass Valley] & kept up about all night; as rum 
went in, reason went out. They became abusive & quarrel- 



308 MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 

some & one man was shot dead in making his escape in the 
street. We heard the report of the guns just as we were 
starting to work, say about ^ hour before sunrise. An ex- 
amination was had but nothing done about it. Such, I think, 
would not have been the case before laws were introduced, 
while the miners were the law makers & law executors 
Capt. Babcock of the Manns, S. H., is expecting 



to go back with us 



Centreville, Feb. 2d, 1851. 



Our little company of 3 is dissolved by mutual 
consent. Isham goes North upon Feather River in a few 
days in Co. with Capt. Wm. Post & Wm. S. Halsey, W. 
H'n. Capt. Halsey & myself continue together & are ex- 
pecting to spend the summer upon Bear River . 
Wm. Petty, Eli Fordham & John Marshall have gone to 
Indian Creek . . . Wm. M. Parker left in the early 
part of winter around Cape Horn . 

Steep Canion, Bear River, March 30th 1851. 

Here we are in an almost secluded spot, in a 
kind of wilderness, hemmled in with mountains & forests 
that a short time ago were inhabited only by wild beasts 
& human beings scarcely less wild. Since I have intro- 
duced this I will say a few words in reference to the natives 
In size they are about medium, some few of them 
large & well proportioned, in color about like the half breeds 
at the south, with black straight hair & low foreheads. Their 
living consists of wild game, roots & nuts. In their habits 
they are filthy & indolent. Their dress now is generally of 
American style, although you see some of them entirely 
naked . . . Their ornaments are beads, birds, feathers 
6: squirrels tails. The ears of many of them are cut & huge 
pieces of wood worn as ornaments. From the top of their 
heads as low as their breasts you see them daubed over 
Vv'ith a black sticky mixture resembling tar . . . Some 



MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 309 

think this is done upon mourning occasions. The men are 
very expert with the bow & arrow & I have seen them at 
quite a distance from the object shoot with great precision. 
The arrow is made of a piece of reed, with stone or glass 
points made very sharp . . . 

A few words more in regard to our location, manner of 
living &c may be as interesting as to lengthen out the story 
of the Indians. Well, we are located within 40 rods of the 
place where we struck our tent last fall. We have a tier 
of logs rolled up, enclosing a space about as large as a com- 
mon sized pig-pen, one end of which answers (with a few 
large stones laid up against the logs) for a fire-place & the 
other to spread down quilts, blankets &c to sleep upon & 
in the morning roll them up out of the way. The interme- 
diate space is for provisions, cooking apparatus &c. The 
roof is an old tent suspended over the ridge pole & nailed 
to the logs upon the sides. It smokes prodigiously some- 
times. Our living now we think to be pretty good. Our 
bill of fare is as follows : Home made bread as good as 
the best. It is made of yeast, flour & a little salt & grease 

We sometimes have fresh venison or beef which is 
quite a relief from the monotonous salt junk style of living. 
In addition to this we have porridge occasionally & now 
& then we have boiled potatoes or dried apples stewed for 
sauce . . . The molasses I almost forgot to mention, 
v/hich is a very good substitute for sweetmeats, done up in 
real old fashioned Yankee style. We have a barrel that we 
owned in Co. with Capt. Post & 5 or 7 others, for which 
we paid in gold dust about $100. 

Our River diggins have proved better than we expected 

There are at present located within a ^ of a mile 
of us nearly 50 men; among them Capt. Sweeny, John Har- 
rison, Edward Foster & Geo. Shaw. Job Hedges & Spencer 
Say re are about a mile above . . . Capt. Post & I sham 

were located upon Indian Creek . . . Geo. 
White, Eli Fordham, John Marshall, are near them . . . 



310 MEMORIALS OF OLD BRIDGEHAMPTON 

Capt. Babcock, Thos. Wallace & Erastus Glover are still 
?t Grass Valley . . 

Bear River, May 4th 1851. 

There must be several [letters] for nie some- 
where. I don't believe the express carriers interest them- 
selves except so far as pecuniary advantages are concerned. 
These ought not to be considered trifling for I have several 
times paid as high as $2.40 per letter & I think never less 
than $2.00 . . . Sam'l. B. Halsey, & H. Corwithe from 
Deer Creek staid with us Monday night last; they report 
the death of Capt. James Parker who died suddenly on the 
29th of April at Indian Creek . 

Bear River. Sept. 28th 1851. 

It will be three weeks tomorrow since Capt. 
Halsey & his companions left here for home . . . 
There is a tremendous rush for home this fall, almost as 
great as in 1849 ^ 5° to get out here. Reports are in cir- 
culation here that tickets for N. York are $300 & I with 
many others have made up my mind to stay until spring 
If I get very homesick I may take a sailing vessel. 
Oct. 5th 185 1. ... if you can give me any informa- 
tion about those who have taken the new route home, I 
should be glad — I mean Vanderbelt's via Lake Nicaragua, 
how it compares with the land transit via Panama." 

THE END 



APPENDIX 



GRAVESTONES 

Hie following" list contains e\ery stone in the Alecox, 
Sagg, Poxabogue, Hayground. and the "Old" (Main 
Street ) Burying Grounds. The stones in Edgewood 
Cemetery have not been included, as that cemetery is 
very new, the first interment having been made Aug. 17, 
1894 (incorporated 1893). A very few stones have been 
moved there and it contains one. which curiously 
enough marks a grave which w^as there 114 years before 
the cemetery came to it. Lemuel Howell died of small- 
pox and was buried in the woods which now are in- 
cluded in the Burying Ground. This stone reads. 
"Lemuel Howell. Born Sept. 18. 1718. Died P>b. 22. 
1781." 

Three former cemeteries have been done away with. 
The Scuttle Hole Cemetery was on the south side of 
Scuttle Hole Road, by the road side, on the present 
farm of Mr. Henry N. Corwith. almost opposite the 
present Post homestead. 

Besides those moved from Scuttle Hole to the Main 
St. ("Old") Burying Ground, there were the following 
stones in the former, according to an old record, which 
I have not found elsewhere, ^^4^ere they were moved 
to, I cannot tell. 

"Here lies the body of Thomas Sandford Esq., who 
died February 23, 1787, in the 73d year of his age." 

"Prudence, wife of Silas Cook, died 1754, age 36." 



MEMORIALS OF Of./) EKIDGEIUMFTON 3] 3 

"Silas Cook, son of Silas Cook, died 1732, aged 9 
years." 

"Nathan Sandford died Feb. 27, 1778, aged 66 years." 

"Daniel, son of Daniel & Abigail Baker, died 1760." 

In Water Mill, some few hnndred feet north of the 
old mill, in an open field, are 3 stones, and probably 
more graves. As these may disappear in time, and as 
one of them is given w^rongly in Howell, and another 
not given, and as they have reference to Bridgehampton 
families. I here transcribe them. 

"Here lyes bnried the body of Mr. David Halsey 
dec'd Feb. ye 18th, 1731-2, in ye 69th year of his age." 

"Here Lyes the Body of Mrs. Temperence Cook, 
Wife to Mr. Ellis Cook, who Died December 9th. 1725. 
in ye 19th year of her age." 

"Here Lyes ye Body of Mrs. Temperence Lndlam 
Wife to Mr. Jeremiah Ludlam who Deed. April ye 21st, 
1726, in the ye 29th year of her age." 

The Mitchell Burying Ground was on the southwest 
corner of Mitchell's Lane and Scuttle Hole Road, run- 
ning down the Lane rather than the Road. 

The Loper Burying Ground was on "the Triangle 
where the roads part west and north east from the road 
going to the farm of Theodore W' hite." 

The "Old" Cemetery next to the Presbyterian Church 
was incorporated in 1915 under the title of the "Old 
Cemetery Association of Bridgehampton," and a deed 
given by the Town of Southampton to the new corpor- 
ation. The first annual meeting was held May 8, 1915. 
Wm. D. Halsey being elected President. 

At the present time a movement is under way to in- 
corporate the old Mecox Burying Ground. 

In regard to the accuracy of the following inscrip- 
tions, I may say that in some cases many visits to the 
Burying Grounds were made in order to study some of 
the doubtful or difficult stones under different condi- 
tions of light, when making the field notes. These notes 



314 SAGG CEMETERY 

were kindly rearranged in alphabetical order and copied 
out fresh for me by my father, Mr. Wm. Newton 
Adams. This new list was then taken by us to the cem- 
eteries and all checked off directly by a new reading of 
the stones, before it was given to the printer, while the 
printer's proofs were checked as carefully as I could 
with this list. That there are no errors is probably too 
much to hope, but I believe that there are not many. 

SAGG CEMETERY. 

BARRON. In memory of Mr. Andrew Barron who died March 

14, 1782 in the 56th Year of his Age. 
In memory of Sarah Relict of Andrew Barron who died 

October 27, 1805 in the 74 Year of her Age. 
BROWNE. In memory of Mrs. Susanna Browne wife of the 

Revd. Mr. James Browne who Departed this Life August 19th, 

A. D. 1751. Aged 23 Years 3 mo. & IS ds. 

She died in Jesus and is Blest 

To Heavenly Bliss She's gon to Rest 

From Labour, Sorrow Toil and Pain 

Where Grace is Glory Doth Remain. Revel. XIV, XIII. 

Here lies the body of Margaret Susanna Browne daur. of 

the Rev. James & Mrs. Sarah Browne died Octr. 31st, 1753. 

Aped 7 months & 21 ds. 
CUFFEE. Died Feb. 12, 1854. Elizabeth CuflFee. Ae. 35. 
CULLUM. Elizabeth daughr. of Richard & Mary A. Cullum 

died Feb. 17, 1854. Ae. 7 ys. 10 mo. 

Suffer little children to come unto me. 
DUTCHER. Sammie C. son of Cornelius & Hannah Dutcher 

died May 15, 1862. Ae. 2 ys. 5 mo. 

We lay thee in the silent tomb 
Sweet blossom of a day 
We just began to see thy bloom 
When thou art called away. 

EDWARDS. Thaddeus S. Edwards. 1853-1884. 

Mary E. Edwards. 1856-1910. 

• Ralph infant son of Thaddeus S. and Mary E. Edwards 

died 1883. 
HAINES. In memory of Frances daughr. of Daniel H. & 

Esther Haines who died March 6, 1818. Aged 2ys. 6 mo. & 

21 ds. 
In memory of Esther wife of Daniel H. Haines who died 

Jan. 25, 1846. Ae. 56. 
HAINS. Lemuel Hains died Apl. 15, 1856. Ae. 89. 
In memory of Mary wife of Lemuel Hains who died Dec. 

22, 1839. Aged 70 years. 

-In memory of Samuel Hains who died August 24, 1830. 



Aged 29. 



SAGG CEMETERY 315 

HAYNES. Aunt Phebe widow of Daniel H. Haynes died April 
29, 1885. Ac. 90 ys. 7 mos & 22 dys. 

Dear Saviour take me home to rest. 

Daniel H. Haynes born Aug. 3d, 1788; died Sept. 17th, 

1865. E. 77 ys. 

Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord. 
-In memory of Betsey Haynes who died Sept. 18. 1848. 



Ae. 43. 
HALSEY. In memory of Tabitha wife of Jesse Halsey who 

died Sept. 26, 1801 in the 32nd Year of her Age. 
HAND. In memory of Mrs. Abigail Hand wife of Mr. John 

Hand, Jnr., who departed this Life Deer. 2nd, 1781 in the 20th 

Year of her Age. 
HAVENS. Joanna P. Havens Born Nov. 6, 1822. Died May 29, 

1908. 
HEDGES. Sacred to the Memory of Mrs. Phebe Hedges Wife of 

Deac. David Hedges who died Jan. 22, 1796. Aged 55 Years. 

(Verse illegible.) 

Footstone. Mr. Stephen Hedges. Headstone gone. 

In memory of Daniel Hedges who died June 11th, 1734 in ye 

58 year of his Age. 

-In memory of Daniel Hedges who died April 12th, 1766 in the 



58th Year of his Age. 

-In memory of Sarah the Wife of Daniel Hedges who died 



Deer. 3d, 1765 in ye 54th Year of her Age. 

-Sacred to the memory of Mrs. Charity Hedges, Wife of 



Deacn. David Hedges who departed this life Oct. 25th, 1791. 
Aged 43 Years & 11 months. 

Dear partner of my life 
And children whom I've loved 
Remember dying strife 
Which you have yet to prove. 
Come learn the Heavenly art 
Improve the hours you have 
Come act the wiser part 
And live beyond the grave. 

-In memory of Daniel Hedges who died Nov. 26th, 1797 in 



the 64th Year of his Age. 

-In memory of Sarah wife of Daniel Hedges who died Sept. 



30, 1773 in the 41 Year of her Age. 

-Daniel H. Hedges Son of Deacn. David & Mrs. Charity Hedges 



died March 21st, 1780 in the 7th Year of his Age. 

-In memorj' of Col. Jonathan Hedges who died June 3, 1804 



in the 80 year of his age. 

-In memory of Mrs. Phebe Hedges wife of Col. Jonathan 



Hedges who died June 1774 in the 52 year of her. age. 

-In memory of Mrs. Abigail Hedges Relict of Mr. Daniel 



Hedges who died Nov. 1, 1773. Aged 92. 

-Infant Daughter of Edwin & Nancy K. Hedges died March 



13, 1844. 

Jeremiah O. son of Jeremiah O. & Eliza Hedges died May 

1, 1849. Ae. 1 yr. 9 mo. 



316 SAGG CEMETERY 

-My flesh shall rest in hope. In memory of Zephaniah Hedges 



who died Sept. 16, 1847. Aged 78 Years. 

He was by occupation a Farmer. Of stern justice as a man. 
Consistent and uncompromising as a Christian. Diligent in busi- 
ness, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord. 

-In memory of Phebe P. widow of Zephaniah Hedges born Oct. 



15, 1781 died March 12, 1864. 

-In memory of Esther Widow of David Hedges Esq. who died 



Sept. 10, 1825. Ae. 61. 

Weep not for me but for yourselves & for your children. 
-Our dear Mother. Phebe Dayton 1st wife of Stephen Hedges 



Jun. Died March 7th, 1815. Ae. 50 ys. 
Stephen Hedges Jun. Died Oct. 5th, 1826. Ae. 60 yrs. 
Elizabeth Redfield 2nd wife of Stephen Hedges Jun. Died Aug. 
15th, 1846. Ae. 70 yrs. 

-In memory of David Hedges, Esq., who was nearly fifty years 



Deacon of the Presbyterian Church in this place and was frequently 
intrusted with various important offices both in Church and State 
the duties of which he discharged with ability and acceptance. 
He was a man of strong mental powers, distinguished Christian 
gifts and eminent usefulness. He died Nov. 8, 1817. Aged 7Z 
years. 

In memory of James M. Hedges, son of Wilkes & Mary Hedges 

who died Dec. 25, 1828. Ae. 15. 

-In memory of Mary M. Hedges daughr. of Wilkes & Mary 



Hedges who died Oct. 18, 1827. Ae. 21. 

Here weep the Parents, Sister and the Brothers 
Here all who knew, loved and lament. 

Prov. X. 7. Levi Hedges, Esq., Born Nov. 28, 1791. Died 

Nov. 28, 1874. 

-Elmira C. widow of Levi Hedges, Esq. Born April 1, 1794. 



Died Aug. 18, 1877. 

She hath done what she could. Mark 14.8. 
HEGES. In memory of Mrs. Matse Heges wife of Mr. Nathan 
Heges and daughr. of Mr. John Cook who died July 18th, 1778 
in the 22 year of her age. 
HILL. James Hill born Nov. 17, 1844 died April 2, 1910. 
HOWELL. Here lyes buried the body of Mr. Matthewi Howell 
died Jan. ye 20th, 1733/4 in ye 25th Year of his age. 

Abraham Howell Died March ye 18, 1742 In ye 60 year of 

his Age. 

Sudden and awfull was ye stroke 
By which he was Removed 
Unto the full Fruition of 
The God he served and loved. 

-In memory of Sarah Wife of Elihu Howell who died Deer 



30th, 1801 in the 33d year of her age. 

-Here lyes buried the body of Theopholous Howell, Esq., aged 



77 years deed. March ye 12th, 1739. 
Here lies buried ye body of Mrs. Abigail Howell wife of 



SAGG CEMETERY 317 

Theophilus Howell, Esq. who died October 24th, 1750 in the 78th 
Year of her Age. 

-In memory of Ruth wife of Elihu Howel) who died April 



30, 1811. Ae. 47. 

Died May 5, 1833 Mary Jane daughr. of Edward & Bathsheba 

Howell. Ae. 4 ys. 

-In memory of Septimeus son of Elihu & Ruth Howell who 



died Sept. 4, 1829. Ae. 26. 

-In memory of Sarah wife of Elias Howell who died Sept. 



17, 1810 aged 36 years 

Calm and serene she yields her mortal breath 
In hope of bliss she triumphs over death. 

-In memory of Elihu Howell who died July 20, 1831. Ae. 67. 



Died June 2, 1851. Eunice widow of Elihu Howell. Ae. 86. 

HOWILL. Philip Howill son of Abraham & Mary Howill aged 

about 4 vears. dyed Jany ye 3d, 1716. 
LUDLOW. Died Nov. 21, 1801. Eliza daugh. of Abraham & Phebe 

Ludlow. Ae. 5 yrs. 9 mo. 

Died April 12, 1821 Rebecca M. Ludlow Ae. 19. 

Death 

NORRIS — Here lyeth the body of Hannah Norris the wife of 

Robert Norris who died January the 13, 1730 in the 77th Year of 

her age. 
PEIRSON. 
PIEKSON. Here lyeth the body of John Peirson who was born 

November the last Anno 1685 and deceased January the 15th Anno 

1704. Aetatis sua 20. 
Here lyeth the body of Esther Peirson wife of Mr. David 

Peirson who dyed November the 22 Anno 1711 in the 27 Year of 

her age. 

-Here was layed the body of Mary Peirson wife of Mr. David 



Peirson who deceased September the first Anno 1717. Ae 55. 

-In memory of Corcelia Ann dnughter of Theophilus T. 



Hannah Peirson who died Sept. 1, 1819 aged 2 years & 28 days. 
-In memory of Hiram son of Wm. & Elizabeth Peirson who 



died Sept. 7, 1805. Aged 1 year & 4 mo. 

-In memory of Samuel D. Peirson who died May 14, 1818 in 



the 32d Year of his age. 
In memory of Mrs. Hannah Wife of Mr. Job Peirson who 

died March 13, 1777 in the 73rd Year of her Age. 
In memory of Job Peirson Esq who departed this life Feb. 

28th, 1788. Aged 91 years. 
Here lies the body of Mr. Theodor Peirson who departed this 

life May 7th Anno Dominy 1726. Aged 57 Years. 

-In memory of Sarah Wife of Lemuel Peirson who died July 



23 A. D. 1771. Aged 25 years 1 mo & 8 days. 

-Laurannah Daughter of Capt. David & Mrs. Elisabeth Peirson 



died May 23d A. D. 1775 in the 8 Year of her age. 

-Saraii Daughter of Capt. David & Mrs. Elisabeth Peirson died 



July 7, 1775 in the 2d Year of her Age. 

Here lyeth ye body of Mrs. Susannah Peirson the wife of 

Coll. Henrv Peirson who dved November the 4th Anno 1716. 



318 SAGG CEMETERY 

-Still Born Son of Mr. Lemuel & Mrs. Elisabeth Peirson Sept. 



3d 1764. 

-Elisabeth Daughter of Mr. Lemuel & Mrs. Elisabeth Peirson 



who died April 11th, 1764 in the 7th year of her age. 

-Keturah Peirson died Oct. 17th A. D. 1753 in the 19th Year 



of her age. 

-Isack the son of Lemuel & Mrs. Elisabeth Peirson died Febry. 



the 12th, 1757. Aged 3 days. 

-Henry the son of Mr. Lemuel & Mrs. Elisabeth Peirson died 



Octobr. the 9th 1760. In the 3d yeare of his age. 

-Coll. Henry Peirson desesed November the 15 in the 50 yeare 



of his age 1701. 

-In memory of Mrs. Martha the wife of Mr. Lemuel Peirson 



who died Augst. the 26th 1753 in the 38th year of her age. 

My sun is Set, My Glass is Run 
My Candles Out, My Work is Done. 

-Here lies ye body Jerusha Wife of Nathan Pierson who died 



September ye 12th, 1757 aged 32 years. 

-In memory of Elizabeth Wife of Capt. Wm. Peirson who died 



Nov. 12, 1814 in the 52 year of her age. 

-Nancy daughr. of Hervey & Nancy Pierson died Oct. 1, 1826. 



Ae. 14. 

Nancy Wife of Hervey Pierson die April 14 1813. Ae 28. 

-Isaac Hunting son of Samuel H. & Mary Pierson died Feb. 



27 1816. Ae. 3 mo. 

-In memory of Jerusha Wife of Samuel Peirson who died 



Oct. 4, 1821 in her 63 year. 

In memory of Samuel Peirson who died Oct. 6, 1838. Ae. 86 

-William T. Son of Alfred & Betsey Pierson died May 3, 



1836. Ae. 1 yr. 6 mo. 3 ds. 

Sweet little cherub forced to yield 
And bow to conquering death 
The sentence could not be repealed. 

Phebe T. Pierson daughr. of Alfred & Betsey Pierson died 

March 17, 1823. Ae. 4 ys. 3 mo. 26 ds. 

So shall thy infant frame in dust repose 
Till the glad morn awake thy opening eyes 
When death-like slumber shall forever close 
And angels wing thee to the skies 

Martha Stewart widow of Capt. William Pierson died Jan. 

12, 1844. Ae. 76 ys. 

-In memory of Capt. William Peirson who died July 17, 1825. 



Ae. 63. 

In memory of Lemuel Peirson who died April 14, 1819. Ae. 92. 

-In memory of Elizabeth Wife of Lemuel Peirson who died 



May 20, 1821. Ae. 96. 

-Our Mother. Betsey D. widow of Alfred Pierson died June 



3, 1874. Ae. 80 ys. & 3 mo. 

My hope is in thee. 



SAGG CEMETERY 319 

- — —In memory of Alfred Peirson who died Sept. 4, 1848. Ae. 54 
ys. 11 mo. 21 ds. 

Behold he taketh away. Who can hinder him 

Who will say unto him, What doest thou. Job. IX 12. 

-Frances J. Daughter of Jesse & Eliza Pierson died Dec. 23, 



1809. Ae. 17 mo. & 4 dys. 

-In memory of Abigail wife of Nathan Pierson who died Nov. 



18, 1782 in the 51 year of her age. 
Robert S. Pierson died July 19, 1857. Ae. 47. 



All, All is peace and joy divine 

And Heaven and glory now are thme. 

James M. Pierson died Dec. 15, 1859. Ae. 46. 

Affliction sore long time I bore. 
Elizabeth widow of Jesse Pierson died Feb. 8, 1861. Ae. 77. 

Be ye humble rest your hopes above 
Sincerely seek your Saviour's love. 

Marietta Pierson died July 19th, 1864. Ae. 47 yrs. 

They who sleep in Christ in Christ shall live 
And waking join the Assembly of the just. 

Shaft W. Side. David Pierson born Apr. 14, 1801 died Oct. 

14, 1871. 

Blessed are the pure in heart. 
Susana widow of David Pierson died Tune 20th, 1881. Ae. 53 vrs. 
S. Side. David E. Pierson born Feb. 17th, 1867 died Feb. 16th, 1888. 
-In memory of Susannah Wife of Capt. David Pierson who 



died March 17, 1816. Ae. 64. 

Make the extended skies your tomb 
Let stars record your worth 
Yet know vain mortals all must die 
As nature's sickliest birth. 

In memory of Capt. David Pierson who died Feb. 15, 1829. 

Ae. 78. 

He was distinguished for strong mental power firmness of char- 
acter & strict integrity. 

Jesse Pierson died Jan. 27, 1840. Ae. 60 

Religion bore his spirits up 
He served a faithful God 
The sure foundation of his hope 
Was in a Saviour's blood. 

In memory of George W. Pierson who died July 10, 1840. 

Aged 37 years. 

Let weeping virtue mourn around thy tomb 

And early friendship wail thine early doom 

Yet worth like thine sustains no rude decay 

Tho time should sweep these sculptured lines away. 

•An infant Daughter of Silas & Betsey Peirson dec June 16. 



1821. Aged 6 wks. 



320 SAGG CEMETERY 

-Benjamin Franklin son of Lemuel & Mary C. Pierson died 



March 11, 1817. Ae. 15 ys. 

Henry son of Lemuel & Mary C. Pierson died Jan. 2, 1799. Ae. 

6 ys. & 5 mo. 

Henry Allen son of Lemuel & Mary C. Pierson died June 27, 1802. 

Ae. 2 ys. & 5 mo. 
In memory of Nathan Peirson who died Feb. 5, 1810 in the 

88 year of his age. 

In memory of Nathnl. Pierson who died Oct. 6, 1847. Ae. 52. 

For me to live is Christ & to die is gain 
-Daniel H. son of John & Hannah Pierson died Aug. 16, 1805. 



Ae. 4 yrs. 7 mo. 27 dys. 

-In memory of Theodore Pierson son of Caleb & Damaris 



Pierson who died Oct. 31, 1820 in the 30 year of his age. 

Susan Pierson born Oct. 6, 1809 died Sept. 15, 1877. 

Hannah Wife of John Pierson Died June 16, 1853. Ae. 81. 



Her childrens last tribute. Farewell we soon shall follow. 
— John Pierson died Aug. 11, 1853. Ae. 81. 

Yet in my flesh shall I see God. 
— In memory of Caleb Pierson who died July 23, 1834. Ae. 70. 

O in an hour when we thought not 
Death bore him fast away 
To brighten worlds of happiness 
And everlasting day. 

-In memory of Damaris wife of Caleb Pierson who died Feb. 



5, 1833 in the 66 year of her age. 

-Silas Augustus Son of Silas & Betsey Pierson died Feb. 28, 



1832. Ae. 5 yrs. 

-Hiram Son of Silas & Betsy Pierson Died Oct. 29, 1833. Ae. 



15 ys. 10 mos. 

My friends who like to mourn and weep 
Behold the grave wherein I sleep 
Prepare for death for your must die 
And be entomb'd as well as T 
Youth stay thy glee, turn hence thine eye 
Learn how to live know you must die 
Age mark me well how thin the thread 
One moment and the grave's thy bed. 

-Sarah Elizabeth daughr. of Silas & Betsey Pierson Died Nov. 



19, 1834. Ae. 5 yrs. 9 mo. 

. Silas Pierson Died July 26 1860. Ae. 72 ys. 

He rests in hope of a blessed immortality. 

■ Betsey widow of Silas Pierson Died June 13th, 1864. Ae. 68 

yrs. She sleeps in Jesus. 

-Mr. Lemuel Pierson Died Nov. 18, 1821. Aged 78 Years. 



He was many years an Elder in the Presbyterian Church in this 
place & adorned his profession by a life of exemplary piety. 

-Mrs. Mary wife of Mr. Lemuel Pierson & Daughter of Mr. 



Jones Clay of Chatham, Conn, was married to Mr. Pierson of this 
place in Sept. 1787 & died March 1, 1821 hi the 62 year of her age. 



SAGG CEMETERY 321 

PETTY. Here lyes the body of Edward Petty who departed this 

life May the 11th, 1704 in the 47 year 

ROGERS. Mabel F. Daughter of Alfred & Alice Rogers died Oct. 
5, 1887. Ae. 1 yr. 7 mo. & 11 ds. 
Infant son died Aug. 9, 1887. 

Safe in the Arms of Jesus. 

Flora E. Daughter of Alfred & Alice Rogers died Feb. 5, 

1892. Ae. 2 ys. 4 mo. & 22 ds. 
Infant son died Nov. 21, 1893. 

Sheltered and safe from sorrow. 
-Josiah Rogers died Jan. 26, 1899. Ae. 83 ys. & 4 ms. 



Elizabeth C. Pierson His wife died Jan. 20, 1911. Ae. 86 yrs. 
11 mos. & 19 dys. 

-Ada Daughr. of Josiah & Elizabeth C. Rogers died Oct. 25, 



1861. Ae. 7 yrs. 7 mos. 20 ds. 

We loved her 
-Harriet Elizabeth daugh. of Josiah & Elizabeth C. Rogers died 



Nov. 4, 1850. Ae. 21 ds. 
RUSCO. Here was layed ye body of Mr. Nathaniel Rusco who 

dyed August the 21 Anno 1714 in the 67 Year of his age. 
RUSSEL. In memory of Job son of John & Rebeccah Russel May ve 

7, 1748. Aged 22 days. 
In memory of Mrs. Rebeccah Russel wife of John Russel iHvho 

Departed this Life Septembr. 19th A. D. 1751. Aged 30 Years 

wanting 15 days. 

Peace and Kindness her mind Inspired 
Which made her Life by all Desired 
But Death our Pleasing Hopes did Cross 
And we with Grief Lament our Loss. 

-Phebe Dau. of John & Esther Russel aged 2 ys. 11 months & 



25 Ds. Died April ye 2, 1756. 

-Mary Daugh. of John & Rebeccah Russel Aged 3 years & 



3 mos. Died Aug. ye 8th, 1749. 
SEABURY. Tulia A. widow of Samuel A. Seabury died March 22, 
1873. Ae. 83 yrs. 

Be ye also ready for in such an hour as ye think not the Son 
of man cometh. 

STANBROUGH. Mr. Peregrine Stanbrough D. C. in ye Parish de- 
parted this life January the 4th 1701 in 62 Year of Age. 

Here lyeth ye Body of Mrs. Eunice Stanbrough who de- 
parted life iSIovember the 14th, 1701 in the 48th Year of her Age. 

STRONG. Charitv H. daughr. of Jesse & Eliza Strong died Oct. 
4, 1827. Ae. 1 yr. 7 mo. 

TOPPING. Here lies ye Body of Mrs. Mehetabel ye Wife of Decn. 
Josiah Topping who died April ye 28th, 1732 in age 37 Years. 

Here lies ye Body of Captin Elnathan Topping who departed 

this life March the 26 Anno Domini 1705. Aged 64 Years. 

-Here lieth the body of John Topping, Justice of the Peace 



Aged fiftv years Who departed this life in the 29 day of May in 
the Year '1686. 



322 SAGG CEMETERY 

-Here lies interd ye Body of Capt. Stephen Topping who died 



April 29, 1746 in ye 67 Year of his age. 

Here Lies ye Body of Mrs. Hannah ye wife of Capt. Step'n. 

Topping who died Janry. 8th, 1726 in ye 42 year of her age. 

-Here lies ye body of Mary Topping the wife of Elnathan 



Topping who departed this life April the 26 anno domini 1704. 
Aged 60 years. 

-Here lies all that was mortal of David Topping A man of 



many virtues few foibles good talents & no vices in 1834 at the 
age of 86 nature exhausted gave way. He sleeps the sleep of 
death. This tablet is erected to his memory by a son who loved 
him, who venerated his virtues — his affection was reciprocated by 
an indulgent Parent. 

-Died March 17, 1787. Bathsheba daughr. of David & Rebecca 



Topping. Ae. 4 ys. 6 mo. 

Nathaniel Topping M. D. died Feb. 25, 1871. Ae. 80 ys. 

-Died on the 15 Sept. 1848. Mary S. wife of Doct. Nathaniel 



Topping. Ae. 44. 

Her presence was our light and joy, 
The blessing of our store : 
But ah ! that source of joy is gone, 
That light can shine no more. 

-In memory of Betsey M. Wife of Doct. Nathaniel Topping who 



died Oct. 21, 1833. Ae. 36. 

The wintry blasts of Death 
Kill 

In memorv of Jane Relict of David Topping who died July 

23, 1798. Ae."80. 

In memory of David Topping who died Dec. 16, 1796. Ae. 80. 

-In memory of Phebe wife of David Topping who died June 



24, 1759. Ae. 42. 
Smith S. Topping died July 31, 1858. Ae. 77. 



On earth no more Life's duties to fulfill 

I sleep in dust an wait the Almighty's will. 

-In memory of Jane Relict of Mathew Topping who died Dec. 



7, 1839 in the 81 year of her Age. 

Receive O earth this faded form 
In thy cold bosom let it lie 
Safe let it rest from every storm 
Soon must it rise no more to die. 

Orlando S. son of Doct. Nathaniel & Betsey Topping died Nov. 

23, 1823. Ae. 8 months. 

Fondly we hoped, how vain that hope appears; 
Our smiling boy would live for days to come. 

-Orland S. son of Doct. Nathaniel & Betsey Topping died Sept. 



27, 1826. Ae. 11 mo. 

So fades the lovely blooming flower. 



SAGG CEMETERY 323 

-In memory of Matthew Topping who died Sept. 5, 1837 in the 



85 year of his age. 

This modest stone, what few vain marbles can 
May truly say here lies an honest man. 

-In memory of Clarissa Daughter of Mathew & Jane Topping 



who died Dec. 27, 1829. Ae. 33. 

How many hopes were borne upon thy bier. 
-This erected to the memory of Rebecca Topping Wife of 



David Topping. As a wife, mother and friend her virtues shone 
conspicuous, fulfilHng the several stations which nature assigned 
her, with pleasing affection and consciousness of rectitude. In 
1835 6 months & 26 days after her husband at the Age of 80 she 
followed him in death. 

-Gardiner B. Topping 1800-1891. 



Mary H. Topping 1829-1904. 

-Adelaide Daughter of Gardiner B. & Mary H. Topping Died 



April 17, 1860. Ae. 1 yr. 7 mo. 17 ds. 

We laid her here with many a sigh 
And felt when all was oer 
Our home had one bright angel less 
And Heaven one angel more. 

David H. Topping Born March 6th, 1824. Received a certi- 
ficate as counselor at law Julv 1844. Died at Pilatka, Florida, Feb- 
ruary 17th, 1856. 

-Charity H. wife of Rensselaer Topping Died Feb. 24, 1863. 



Ae. 64 yrs. 

Rensselaer Topping Esq. Died 

Sidney Topping 1829-1900. 

-In memory of Marcus Mulford son of Rensselaer & Charity 



Topping who died Oct. 12, 1836. 

Here lies a young cherub days & three years 

Passes over his head disappears. 

He came but to see the first act of the play. 

Did not like the scene & soon passed away 

Would you know where this blossom, this cherub has hied 

Go seek him in Heaven for there he'll abide. 

-John J. Topping Died Feb. 20, 1892. Ae. 50 ys. & 11 mos. 



Children of John J. & Carrie H. Topping. 
Kittie H. Died Jan. 23, 1882. Ae. 13 ys. & 5 mo. 
Robert W. Died Jan. 24, 1882. Ae. 3 ys. & 5 mo. 

-Anna widow of Nathaniel Topping M. D. and daughter of 



Col. Isaac C. Welles born at Ellington, Ct. died Jan. 27, 1878. Ae 

87 yrs. 
WHITE. In memory of Deacn Elnathan White who departed this 

life June 5th, 1773 in the 79th year of his age. 

In memory of Silas White who died August 2, 1815. Ae. 67. 

In memory of Elnathan son of John & Eunice White who 

died Jan. 13, 1812 in the 20 year of his age. Verse illegible. 



324 SAGG CEMETERY 

-In memory of Mary wife of Silas White who died Octr. 25, 



1809 in the 68 year of her age. 

Why do you mourn departing friends 
Or shake at death's alarms 
Tis but the voice that Jesus sends 
To all those in his arms. 

— —Here lies Bury.... ye Body of Mrs. Hannah ye Wife of ye 
Revd. Mr. Ebenezer White who died July 23, 1748 in her 64 Year. 
-Here lies Buried ye Body of Mrs. Mehettabel White who 



died Deer, ye 21st, 1742 in ye 66th Year of her Age. 

-Here Lies Inted. ye Body of Mr. Silas White who died Aug. 



ye 29, 1742 in ye 33 Year of his Age. 

-Here lies ye Body of Mr. Henry White Student of Yale Col- 



lege who died May 4th, 1748 in his 23d Year. 

-In memory of the Reverd. Mr. Ebenezer White, Pastor of the 



Church of Christ in Bridge Hampton who died Feby. 4th A. D. 
1756 in ye 84th Year of his Age. 

-In memory of Silas P. son of Ebenezer & Joanna White who 



died March 23, 1816. Ae. 18 mo. & 23 ds. 

-In memory of Eunice wife of John White who died April 



17, 1813. Ae. 45. 

Behold and see as you pass by 
As you are now so once was I 
As I am now you soon must be 
Prepare for death and follow me. 

-In memory of Ebenezer White Esq. who died Feb. 11th, 1802 



in the 80th year of his age. 

He was a Pillar in the Church of God universally benevolent 
and humane to the world, a tried Patriot in defence of liberty & 
the equal rights of man. 

Prudence Relict of Silas White died Dec. 31, 1829. Ae. 69. 

-In memory of John White who died Nov. 11, 1838. In the 



79 year of his age. 

Sleep on dear friend in this thy tomb 
God said t'was best to call the home. 

In memory of George L. son of John & Sophia White who 

died Nov. 1, 1825. Aged 8 years. 

-Esther A. wife of Alonzo White Died April 7, 1870. Ae. 49 



ys. 11 mo. & 3 ds. 

Dearest Mother thou hast left us 
Yet we know thou art at rest ; 
And may we in Glory greet thee 
Singing praises with the blest. 

Alonzo White Died Jan. Sth, 1865. Ae. 54 ys. 9 mos. 

Dearest Father thou hast left us 
And thy loss we deeply feel 
But the God that has bereft us 
He can all our sorrows heal. 



MECOX CEMETERY 325 

In memory of Silas H. White who died Sept. 26, 1849. Ae. 

23 ys. 9 mo. 

O death where is thy sting, O grave where is thy victory. Thanks 
be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus 
Christ. 

-Mary H. Wife of Ebenezer White Died Aug. 21, 1841. Ae. 



49 yrs. 

Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord, yea saith the Spirit 
that they may rest from their labors and their works do follow 
them. 

Ebenezer White Died Jan. 7, 1855. Ae. 72>. 

Polly White Died Sept. 27, 1858. Ae. 79. 

-In memory of Joanna wife of Ebenezer White who died Dec. 



19, 1822. Ae. 42 ys. & 9 mo. 

Mary P. White daughter of Ebenezer & Joanna White died 

Oct. 17, 1819. Ae. 2 months & 7 days. 

WILMOTT. Here Lyes Ye body of Alecksaner Wilmott who de- 
parted this life September the 18, 1720. Aged 48 Years. 

Here lyeth ye body of Sarah Wilmot wife of Alexander Wil- 

mot decesed June the 16, 1700 in the 26 



MECOX CEMETERY. 

Job's Lane 

CHATFIELD. Henry M. Chatfield Died March 29th, 1867. Ae. 
66 yrs. 4 mos. 

Peace to thy shade, where thou art gone 
We all must go, when the death knell 
That awful summons whispers on 
Dear Father farewell. 

-Nancy Wife of Henry M. Chatfield Died Sept. 19th, 1863. Ae. 



65 yrs. 9 mos. 

Dear Mother thou has left us 
Thy sufferings here are o'er 
Sickness and sorrow pain and death 
Can never reach thee more. 

COOK. In memory of Betsey L. widow of John Cook died Aug. 

28th, 1863. Ae. 78. 

In memory of John Cook Died Jan. 26th, 1856. Ae. 72 ys. 

In memory of Polly Cook wife of Silas Cook who departed 

this life June 29th A. D. 1811 in the 29th year of her age. 

Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was and the spirit 
shall return unto God who gave it. 

-In memory of Mehitabel Consort of Henry Cook and Daughter 



of Nathaniel & Mary Rogers; who died Jan. 8th A. D- 1801 in 
the 28th year of her age. By her side lies Albert Rpgers Cook 



326 MFC ox CEMETERY 

son of Henry and Mechitabel Cook who died Jan. 11th, 1801 
aged 4 months and 5 days. 

Hark my fair guardian chides my stay 
And waves his golden rod 
Angels I come lead on the way 
And waft me to my God. 

Shaft E. Side. William H. Cook died Nov. 6, 1892. Ae. 33 y's. 

7 mo. & 18 ds. 
5". Side Children of J. L. & Hannah H. Cook. 

Anna Ehza died July 13, 1855. Ae. 9 y's. & 3 mo. 

Eugenia Luellen died July 22, 1860. Ae. 18 y's. & 6 mo. 

Eliza Mulford died May 1, 1871. Ae. 15 y's. & 8 mos. 

Bessie J. died Oct. 19, 1885. Ae. 28 y's. & 21 ds. 
W. Side. Cook J. Lawrence Cook died Jan. 19, 1887. Ae. 74 y's. 

and 3 mo. 

Hannah H. wife of J. L. Cook died Nov. 3, 1905. Ae. 85 y's. & 

2 mo. 
Susanna Cook was born Aprl. the 1691 and dyed 

January the 4th, 1707-8. Aetatas 17. 

-Here lyeth the body of Ellis Cook who departed this life 



November the 18th Ano 1706. Aetatas 44. 

Hervey Cook died Aug. 18, 1853. Ae. 64 y's. 

-Betsey wife of Hervey Cook died Feb. 26, 1894. Ae. 84 y's. 



3 mo. & 3 ds. 

-Children of Hervey & Betsey Cook. 



Stephen S. 1827-1845. 
Elmer C. 1831-1849. 
Lucy 1838-1838. 
Henry 1848-1879. 
Lillys 1852-1853. 
In memory of Deac. John Cook who died Feb. 5, 1804. Ae. 82. 

Cook is no more, his soul has took its flight 
From sin and darkness to celestial light 
Weep, reader, weep, but not for him the sigh 
For you, yourself like him the same must die. 

-In memory of Mrs. Mary Cook wife of Mr. John Cook & 



daughter of Mr. Daniel Schellenger who died December 26th, 1778 

in the 46th year of her Age tomb home. 

-In memory of Silas Cook who died Oct. 13, 1842. Aged 59 



y'rs. 7 mo. & 6 ds. 
COOPER. Sacred to the memory of Lucretia wife of Matthew H. 

Cooper who died July 25, 1828. Ae. 69 years 9 mo. 

Harriet widow of John H. Cooper died Oct. 7, 1858. Ae. 63. 

■ John H. Cooper died July 23, 1850. Ae. 58. 

Sacred to the memory of Mathew H. Cooper who died Feb. 

13, 1842. Aged 84 years. 
DIMON. In memory of Mary C. wife of Nathan H. Dimon who 

died June 18, 1845. Ae. 21. An infant son of N. H. & M. C. 

Dimon died Jan. 12, 1845. Ae. 2 mo. 

Hannah Dimon died Feb. 27, 1858. Ae. 68 yrs. 

Mary Jane Dimon died July 13, 1863. Ae. 20 yrs. 

Libby H. Dimon died Aug. 19, 1864. Ae. 13 yr. 



MECOX CEMETERY . 327 

FOOKS. Sarah A. Hildreth wife of Charles Fooks Died Jan. 22, 
1899. Ae. 68 ys. 

A true and faithful friend to all for she thought no evil. 
HALSEY. In memory of Paul Halsey who died Oct. 18, 1849. 
Ae. 70. 

In memory of Caroline Halsey who died March 6, 1841. Ae. 

72,. 

-In memory of Caroline Frances Daughter of Paul & Mary 



Halsey Who died Oct. 28, 1840 aged 23 years. 

Escaped from pain and sins Alluring snares 
Loosed from the world it's sorrow and its cares 
In joys extatic now her spirit roves 
And waits with rapture for the friends she loves. 

In memory of Mary wife of Paul Halsey who died Aug. 11, 

1844. Ae. 63 y's 9 mo. 

-In memory of Corcelia Ann Daughr. of Paul & Mary Halsey 



who died June 9, 1841. Aged 21 years. 

Chide not the hand which breaks the tender ties 
Of friendship here to bear us to the skies 
Restrain thy sighs forbid thy tears to flow 
Corcelia rests from all her toils below. 

-Here was layed the body of Ruth the wife of Mr. Jeremiah 



Halsey who dyed December the 19th Anno. 1717 in the 49 year 
of her age. 

-In memory of Mrs. Phebe Halsey Relict of Mr. Elijah Halsey 



who died of the Smallpox March 26th, 1793 in the 62d year of 
her age. 

-In memory of Mr. Elijah Halsey who died June 10th, 1766 



in the 34th vear of his age. 

-Paul P. son of Paul & Mary Halsey died Aug. 11, 1821. 



Ae. 18. 

Watson son of Paul & Mary Halsey died Nov. 5, 1820. Ae. 21. 

Sarah P. Halsey died Oct. 30, 1884. Ae. 75 yrs. 

-In memorv Ann daugh Hals (Rest 



peeled off). See note 1 on page 329. 

-In memory of Anna wife of Paul Halsey who died August 



24, 1810. Aged 70 years. 

In memory of Paul Halsev who died April 1st, 1830. Ae 

88 y's. 

-In memory of Mehettable Halsey who died Aug. 30, 1841. 



Ae. 65. 

Mr. Sylvester Halsey died Oct. 19, 1845. Ae. 76. 

-Here lyes buried the body of Mr. Jeremiah Halsey departed 



this life Deer, ye 29th, 1737 in ye 72d year of his age. 

-Here lieth the body of Ann Halsey who died the third day 



of July 1714 in the thirty-ninth year of her age. 

In memory of Stephen Halsey who died Aug. 8, 1827. Ae. 38. 

-Cynthia daughter of Job & Rachel Halsey died Sept. 12, 1848. 



Ae. 23. 

The Lord hath called me. 
HAVENS. In memory of Hannah Daughr. of Constant & Hannah 



328 MECOX CEMETERY 

Havens who died Jan. 10th, 1804 in the 2.1st year of her age. 
HEDGES. John N. Hedges died March 13, 1879. Ae. 67 y's & 

5 mo. 
Caroline A. wife of John N. Hedges died Oct. 11, 1873. Ae. 

59 yrs. 

-In memory of Betsey wife of John N. Hedges who died Dec. 



18, 1844. Ae. 29. 

-John N. son of John N. & Betsey Hedges died Dec. 23, 1844. 



Ae. 5 mo. 

-Carrie A. Daughter of John N. & CaroHne A. Hedges died 



April 11, 1861. Ae. 12 yrs. 

-Mary L. Hedges born Oct. 10, 1842 died July 18, 1909. 



HILDRETH. Isaak Hildreth Died April 1, 1822. Ae. 66 ys. 

Luther Hildreth Died Jan. 14, 1868. Ae. 83 ys. 

In memory of Lester Hildreth Died Jan. 12, 1871. Ae. 78. 

HOWELL. Elisha died Oct. 18 A. D. 1776 in the 8th Year of his 

Age. 

Jerusha died Oct. 18, A. D 76 in the. .. .Year of her Age. 

Children of Mr. Phillip & Mrs. Cleopatra Howell — See Note 2, 

page 330. 
A''. B. Two stones — old & new. 

New. Philip Howell died April 2, 1823. Ae. 87. 

Old. In memory of Philip Howell who died April 2, 1823. Ae. 87. 

Let not vain man here fix his place of rest 
Where nature tells him he can ne'er be blest 
(Rest of inscription buried). 

-In memory of Cleopatra wife of Philip Howell who died 



March 23, 1807 in the 75 year of her age. 

-Stephen Son of Mr. Phillip & Mrs. Cleopatra Howell who 



died Octbr. 7th A. D. 1776 in the 12th Year of His Age. 

-Samuel H. Howell U. S. Navy died Feb. 5, 1904. Ae. 76 yrs. 



Julia A. his wife died Oct. 18, 1895. Ae. 71 yrs. 8 mos. 

-Frances M. widow of William F. Howell died June 19, 1874. 



Ae. 65 ys. 

-In memory of William Howell Who Died Dec. 24, 1831. 



Ae. 60. 
In memory of Samuel Howell who died July 2, 1820. Ae. 80. 

Rest wearied dust, In the bosom of the earth 
Rest happy spirit, In the bosom of thy God. 

-In memory of Mrs. Phebe Howell wife of Mr. Samuel Howell 



who died Oct. 17th, 1776 in the 33rd year of her age. 

-Charles M. son of Capt. William & Mary Howell died Oct. 



23, 1819. Ae. 7 ys. 10 mos. & 15 ds. 

-Here lies the body of Samuel Howell who died September the 



27, 1712 aged 35 years. 

-Here lies buried the body of Mr. Elisha Howell died July 10, 



1750 in the 77th year of his age. 

-In memory of Mrs. Damaras Howell Wdo of Mr. Elisha 



Howell who Died May ye 14th, 1757. in the 82nd year of her age. 
Levi Howell died March 8th, 1863. Ae. 81 years. 



MECOX CEMETERY 329 

In memory of William F. Howell who died Jan. 22, 1842. 

Aged 2)7 years.. 

Thy life is done, thy breath is fled 
And what has been no more shall be 
Thy well known form, thy welcome tfead 
Will come no more to comfort me. 

LUDLAM. Here Lyes ye Body of Mr. Anthony Ludlam who Deed. 

Decembr ye 21st, 1723. Aged 53 years. 
Here lyeth the body of Anthony Ludlam who dyed March the 

17th Anno 1681-2 in the 31st year of his age. 

-Here Lyeth The Body of Patience Ludlam wife Of Mr. 



Anthony Ludlam Who Dyed October ye 11th anno 1708 in ye 
31 year of her Age. 
LUDLOW. In memory of Captain Anthony Ludlow who died Nov. 
12th, 1843. Ae. 62. 

The winter of troubles is past 
The storms of affliction are o'er 
His struggles are ended at last 
And sorrow & Death are no more. 

Augustus Ludlow 1828-1908. 

M. Eugenie Ludlow 1829-19— 

Fanney H. Wife of Chas. A. Ludlow 1822-1906. 

-Charles A. Ludlow died April 27, 1892. Ae. 74 y's & 7 mo. 



& 24 ds. 
MITCHELL. Here Lyes the Body of Mrs. Sarah Mitchell Wife to 

Mr. John Mitchell Who Deed December 6th 1718. Aged 58 Years. 
Here Lyes Ye Body of John Mitchell Aged 57 Years. Deed 

March ye 13th, 1717. 

-Here lies Burrd the Body of Phebe Mitchell Wife to John 



Mitchell Who Deed Dembr ye 15th, 1729. Aged 42 yrs. 
NUTON. Here lyeth the body of Benoni Nuton deceased March 

the 4th, 1703-4 in the 54th year of his age. 
Isaac Nuton was born May 20th, 1678 and dyed March the 

20th, 1703-4 in the 26th year of his age. 

-Joannah Nuton wife of Benoni Nuton dyed May 1710 in 



the .... year of her age. 

-Johanna Nuton was born May the 28, 1681 and dyed January 



the 29th, 1703-4 in the 23 year of her age. 
REEVES. In memory of Phebe Reeves who departed this life Feb. 

10, 1828. Ae. 74. 
SANDFORD. Julia W. Sandford Born Oct. 8, 1823. Died Oct. 

8, 1883. 
Here lyes buried the body of Mrs. Elizabeth Sandford wife 

to Mr. Ezekiel Sandford deed April ye 26th, 1738 in ye 58 year of 

her age. 

-Sally widow of James Sandford died Feb. 10, 1860. Ae. 71 



y's & 3 mo. 

-In memory of Ezekiel Sandford who died Aug. 28, 1811. Ae. 



57. 

-James Sandford died Dec. 31, 1858. Ae. 79 ys. & 3 mo. 



SAYRE. In memory of Cap. Daniel Say. ... who died May ye 11th 
A. D. 1748 in ye 83d Year of his age. 



330 POXABOGUE CEMETERY 

-Here Lieth ye Body of Mrs. Sarah ye wife of Daniel Sayre 



Esq. who died May ye 15, 1735 in ye 67th year of her Age. 
SPRAGUE. Martha C. Sprague died Jan. 30th, 1871. Ae. 89 yrs. 
STARR. In memory of Mrs. Mary Starr Wife of Capt. Jared 

Starr and Daughr. of Mr. Elias Cook who died Sept. 27, 1772. 

Aged 27 Years. 

Notes 

In a list of some of the above epitaphs printed in the "Bridge- 
hampton News" of Dec. 4th, 1915, this one is given as follows : 
"In memory of Ann, daughter of Paul Halsey, who died Nov. 28, 
1798, aged 16 years." 

The same authority gives Jerusha's death "in the 2d year of 
her age." 



POXABOGUE CEMETERY. 

ALLAIRE. Cornelia wife of Andrew B. Allaire Died Jan. 19, 1859. 
Ae. 71. 

I would not live alway, I ask not to stay 
Where storm after storm rises dark o'er the way 
I would not live alway thus fettered by sin 
Temptation without and coruption within. 

ALLEN. To the memory of William Oscar Son of Joseph & Eliza 
H. Allen Born in N. Y. City Nov. 2, 1843. Died in Harlem, N. Y. 
Oct. 16, 1859. Aged 16 years 11 months and 14 days. 

To the memory of Eliza H. wife of Joseph Allen and daughter 

of Abraham R. & Sarah B. Mott. Born in Bridgehampton July 
11, 1816. Died in Harlem, N. Y. Feb. 2, 1860. Aged 43 years 
6 months and 22 days. 

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, 
I will fear no evil for thou art with me thy rod and thy staff 
comfort me. Psalms, Chap. XXIII, Verse 4. 

ANDERSON. Elizabeth Anderson. Died 1906. Ae. 45 yrs. 
BURNETT. Died Feb. 18, 1884. Sophronia H. Burnett ae 74 yrs. 
6 mos. 

There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. 
COLEMAN. Almira wife of Hiram Coleman Died Jan. 26, 1862. 

Ae. 66 yrs. 
EDWARDS. Hannah R. Wife of Reuben A. Edwards Died April 

28, 1901. Ae. 63 yrs. At rest. 

Reuben A. Edwards Died July 24, 1906. Ae. 72> ys. At rest. 

Lewis S. Edwards Died Nov. 29, 1859. Ae. 51 yrs. 5 mo. 

Lewis M. son of Lewis S. & Emeline Edwards Died Oct. 22, 1864. 

Ae. 18 ys. & 3 mo. 

-Emeline widow of Lewis Edwards Died April 4, 1872. Ae. 62 



ys. At rest. 

ELDREDGE. In memory of Hannah wife of Deac. Abner Eldredge 
who died Dec. 28, 1831. Ae. 61. 



POXABOGUE CEMETERY 33 1 

FITHEAN. Aaron Fithean Died Aug. 16, 1867. Ae. 63 ys 7 mos 
Also Betsey C. his wife Died Jan. 15, 1888. Ae. 73 ys. 3 mo. 

The Lord is my shepherd. 

HALSEY. Hugh B. son of Capt. Edward & Lucy S. Halsey died 
Oct. 1, 1865. Ae. 4 ys. 9 mos. 

He has done with things of earth 
Ere he knew of grief or care 
Ere he felt the taint of sin 
Sought Heaven's purer air. 

Lucy S. Wife of Capt. Edward Halsey Died Oct. 14, 1865. 

Ae. 46 yrs. 

The Lord is my strength. 

-In memory of Jonathan Halsey who departed this life June 



13, 1819. Ae. 32. 
HAND. Mary widow of Silas Hand died Feb. 27, 1857. Ae. 85. 

There is rest in Heaven. 
Capt. Silas Hand an officer on board the privateer Schuyler 

in 1787. 1764-1818. 
Betsy widow of Sylvanus Hand died July 2nd, 1872. Ae. 76. 

Life's labor done, she resteth well. 

• Sylvanus Hand died March 11, 1858. Ae. 67. 

He shall return no more to his house neither shall his place 
know him anymore. — Job. VII 10. 

-In memory of Nathan S. Hand who died Sept. 13, 1845. Ae. 



27. 



I would not live always, no, blest is the tomb 
Since Jesus has died, I will welcome its gloom : 
There sweet be my rest, till he bid me arise. 
To hail him in triumph descending the skies. 



Silas son of Silvanus & Betsy Hand died Nov. 29, 1827. 

Ae. 3 ys. 

Life is a span, a fleeting hour 

How soon the vapor flies 

Man is a tender, transient flower 

That e'en in blooming dies. 

-Edwin G. Hand Capt. Co. B 11th N. Y. Cav. Born Apr. 20, 



1833 died Jan. 27, 1865. 
Shaft, W. Side. 

-Children of Theron & Sarah T. Hand. 



Solon C. born Feb. 27, 1823 died Jan. 25, 1832. 

5". Side. William L. born Dec. 8, 1827 died Sept. 3, 1828. 

Adaline A. born Aug. 3, 1839 died Apl. 5, 1841. 

Capt. David Hand, a soldier of the Revolution 1730-1802. 

-In memory of Zerviah Wife of David Hand who died Sept. 



19, 1801 in the 69th year of her age. 
HEDGES. In memory of Jared Hedges died Nov. 7th, 1862. Ae. 
92 yrs. 7 mos. 



332 POXABOGUE CEMETERY 

-In memory of Ruth O. N. widow of Jared Hedges died June 



30th, 1867. Ae. 85 yrs. 

The heart of her husband did safely trust in her and her 
children rise up to bless her memory. 
-? — Little Carrie. Ae. 5 days. 

Charity H. Fithian wife of Charles D. Hedges 1836-1909. 

-Edward G. Hedges died May 2, 1884. Ae. 21 ys. & 9 mo. 



At rest. 

Charles O. Hedges, 1823-1881. 

-Robert H. Hedges died May 23, 1892. Ae. 83 yrs. 4 mo. & 



5 ds. 

-Phebe P. wife of Robert H. Hedges died March 15, 1883. 



Ae. 66 ys. 

Helen A. Hedges died March 13, 1906. Ae. 66 yrs & 4 mos. 

Charles O. Hedges died Feb. 13, 1902. Ae. 43 ys. 

-Martha J. Elliston wife of Charles O. Hedges 1863-1908. 



HILDRETH. Solon H. Hildreth Died April 6, 1900. Ae. 67 ys. 
& 7 mo. 

He giveth his beloved sleep 

Phebe E. Wife of Solon H. Hildreth Died Oct. 28, 1897. Ae. 

56 y's. Home at last. 
HOWELL. Stephen Howell died Jan. 7, 1828. Ae. 69. 

Blessed is the man that maketh the Lord his trust. 

Zipporah widow of Stephen Howell died Jan. 2, 1857. Ae. 92. 

There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. 

Shaft W. Side. Daniel V. Howell 1817-1859. 

Marietta C. wife of Dan'l V. Howell 1823-1903. 

5". Side. J. Herbert 1846-1847. 

Fanny H. 1853-1854. 

Infant 1856-1856. 

Ida P. 1857-1862. 

Daniel D. 1859-1862. 

Children of Daniel V. & Marietta C. Howell. 

Double Stone. Betsey Daughter of Stephen & Zipporah Howell 

died Septr. 13th, 1794. Aged 4 years 3 months & 5 days. 

Catherine Daughter of Nathan & Hannah Peirson died Septr. 12th 

1794. Aged 3 years 1 month & 12 days. 

Lie sleep sweet babes until we meet 
Within the gates of Zion street. 

Abigail Howell died Dec. 7, 1823. Ae. 67. 

Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth, 
yea saith the spirit, that they may rest from their labours & their 
works do follow them. 

Shaft IV. Side. Edward Howell born Apr. 2, 1826 died Jan. 20, 

1905. 

N. Side. Ellen C. daughter of Hervey & Sophia H. Howell died 

June 17, 1882. Ae. 59 ys. 7 mo. & 10 dys. 

E. Side. Hervev Howell died Dec. 21, 1880. Ae. 84 ys. & 9 mo. 

Sophia H. wife of Hervey Howell died July 23, 1870. Ae. 70 ys. 



POXABOGUE CEMETERY 333 

KING. Jesse J. King Died Sept. 7, 1889. Ae. 35, ys. 3 mo. & 7 ds. 

Asleep in Jesus. 
LEHMAN. Samuel Lehman Died Aug. 15, 1859. Ae. 17. 

Those that seek me early shall find me. 
MANSIR. Isabel M. Edwards wife of Peter J. Mansir Died Jan. 

22, 1888. Ae. 29 ys. Trust. 
MOTT. Sarah B. widow of Abraham R. Mott died March 22, 

1862. Ae. 80 yrs. 11 mo. 

All the days of my appointed time will I wait till my change 
come. 

George D. Mott died May 16th, 1867. Ae. 54 yrs. 

Peace with God and all mankind 
In hopes of Heaven blest 
Sweet thoughts revealing in his mind 
He sunk away to rest. 

Susana daughr. of Abraham & Sarah B. Mott died at Harlem, 

N. Y. Jan. 29, 1848. Ae. 36. 

Happy spirit thou hast fled 
Where no grief can entrance find 
Lulled to rest the aching heart 
Soothed the anguish of the mind. 
-Cynthia P. daughr. of Abraham & Sarah B. Mott died at 



Rockaway, N. J. Apl. 9, 1851. Ae. 32. 

Gently the passing spirit fled 
Sustained by grace divine 
O may such grace on us be shed 
And make our end like thine 

Abraham R. Mott died September 2, 1858. Ae. 79 ys. 

I have waited for thy Salvation O Lord. 
-Clarissa A. daughter of A. R & Sarah B. Mott died Novem- 



ber 19, 1858. Ae. 53 yrs. 

Farewell my widowed Mother, Sister and brothers dear 
Grieve not for me while sleeping in Christ my Saviour here. 

MULFORD. Monument IV. Side. Samuel Mulford born Oct. 30, 

1826 died Feb. 2, 1905. 

Lydier Lester his wife born Apr. 5, 1828 died July 27, 1888. 

E. Side. Children. 

Elias Born Apr. 8, 1859 Died Sept. 20, 1859. 

C. Matilda Born June 28, 1873 Died Aug. 28, 1876. 
NORRIS. In memory of Abigail wife of John Norris who died 

Feb. 21, 1830. Ae. 77. 

In memory of John Norris who died Jan. 2, 1831. Ae. 81. 

In memory of Mercy Norris who died Aug. 2, 1839. 

OSBORN. Capt. C. F. Osborn born Feb. 18, 1843 died Nov. 2, 

1886. 
Father & Mother Malines Osborn Born April 30, 1796 Died 

Oct. 1, 1865. 

Abigail S. widow of Malines Osborn Born June 17, 1806. Died 

April 6, 1886. 

There is a rest for the weary. 



334 POXABOGUE CEMETERY 

PEIRSON. In memory of Mrs. Phebe Wife of Mr. Matthew 
Peirson who died Febry. 23rd A. D. 1782 in the 53rd Year of 
her age. 

In memory of Mr. Matthew Peirson who died Octr. 17th, 

1798 in the 74th year of his age. 

-In memory of Mr. Silvanus Peirson who died August 23d 



1795 in the 71st year of his age. 

-In memory of Timothy Peirson who died April 26th, 1802 in 



the 72 year of his age. 

-In memory of Mr. Josiah Peirson who died Novbr. 11th A. D. 



1776 in the 82nd Year of his age. 

-In memory of Mrs. Martha Wife of Mr. Josiah Peirson who 



died Septbr. 8th A. D. 1773 in the 74th Year of her Age. 
PIERSON. In memory of Mrs. Rebecca Pierson Wife of Mr. 
Silvanus Pierson who died July 9th, 1785 in the 59th year of 
her age. 

Susan Pierson Aunt Susy Slept in Jesus Feb. 24, 1854. Ae. 76. 

Sustained by Divine Grace she bore with cheerfulness and 
patience her long illness for 52 years. 

John Pierson died July 26, 1833. Ae. 79. 

-Mrs. Ruth Pierson wife of John Pierson died Jan. 14, 1837. 



Ae. 79. 

Shaft W. Side. Lawrence E. Pierson born Aug. 23, 1822 died 

Dec. 23, 1867. 

The memory of the just is blessed. 

S. Side. Eliza H. widow of Lawrence E. Pierson daughter of 

Theron & Sarah Hand Born Jan. 14, 1825 Died Oct. 25, 1869. 
She sleeps in Jesus, blessed sleep. 
POST. Erected in memory of Nathan Post Esq. who was born 

May 14th, 1748 and died Oct. 3d 1803 aged 55 years. 

He was a respectable Magistrate, a kind relation, a good 

Patriot and an honest man. The memory of the just is blessed. 

This corruptible shall put on incorruption and this mortal im- 
mortality. 
— — —In memory of Mehettabel Post Relict of Nathan Post Esq. 

who died May 31, 1832. Ae. 84 ys. & 17 ds. 
Monument IV. Side. Robert F. Post 1806-1849. 



Phebe C. wife of Robert F. Post 1806-1883. 

E. Side. Lodowick Post 1777-1842. 

Elizabeth Sayre his wife 1775-1831. 

Children of L. & E. Post. 

Nathan 1804-1804. 

Margaret 1807-1831. 

Mary S. 1808-1834. 

Lodowick 1811-1812. 

Infant 1814-1814. 

5". Side. Frederick W. son of R. F. & P. C. Post 1838-1838. 

A^. Side. Mary C. Daughter of R. F. & P. C. Post 1845-1847. 
SAYRE. Sophia Sayre died Nov. 24th, 1864. Ae. 55 yrs. 

Charlotte wife of Oliver Savre died Aug. 14, 1815. Ae. 36. 

Oliver Sayre died Feb. 18, 1859. Ae. 77. 

— — In memory of James Sayre who died Oct. 8, 1806. Aged 29 

years. 



POXABOGUE CEMETERY 335 

Polly Sayre died March 30, 1870. Ae. 90 yrs. 9 mo. 

SEABURY. Maria E. wife of Ichabod S. Seabury Died March 2, 

1872. Ae. 47 ys. & 7 mo. 
Maria Louise Daughter of I. S. & Maria E. Seabury Died 

April 1st, 1868. Ae. 16 yrs. 2 mo. 

-Julia C. daughter of Ichabod S. & Maria E. Seabury died 



March 15, 1871. Ae. 22 ys. 
TOPING. In memory of James son of Henry & Mary Toping 
who was drowned near Sag Harbor July 4th, 1797 in the 15th 
year of his age. 

No age nor sex can death defy 
Think mortal what it is to die. 

TOPPING. Died July 30, 1850 Charles W. Topping. Ae. 66. 

Great peace have they which love thy law. 

Pslm. 119. 165. 

Died Sept. 20, 1849 Polly wife of Charles W. Topping. Ae. 54. 

Died Jan. 24, 1851. Henry Topping Ae. 7Z. 

The Lord is my shepherd. Pslm. 23. 1. 

Died April 18, 1857 Mehetable widow of Henry Topping. 

Ae. 81. 

Them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. I 
Thess 4-14. 

-Our Father & Mother Stephen Topping Born Nov. 8, 1808. 



Died Jan. 30, 1899. 

Catherine Born July 31, 1814. Died Sept. 10, 1897. 

-Augustus Topping Died at sea on board the Bark Stampead 



July 15, 1858. Ae. 25. 

The voyage of life's at an end 
The mortal afflictions is past. 
The age that in Heaven thou spend 
For ever and ever shall last. 

-In memory of Mary Wife of Henry Topping who died Septr. 



19, 1807 aged 50 years & 7 mo. 

-In memory of Henry Topping who died March 25, 1812. Ae. 



62? 

Hervey Topping died May 25, 1821. Ae. 32 yrs. 7 mo. 

-Sarah widow of Hervey Topping died May 8th 1864. Ae. 



74 yrs. 

-Josiah son of Charles W. & Polly Topping died Feb. 5, 1820. 



Ae. 1 yr. 4 mo. 

-In memory of Charles M. Topping son of Joshua & Susannah 



Topping who died Sept. 26, 1805 aged 2 years & 5 mo. 
-Daniel Topping died April 15, 1787. Ae. 67. 



WOOD. Stephen D. Wood 1813-1905. 

Jane H. Wife of Stephen D. Wood Died March 3, 1900. Ae. 

85 yrs. 1 mo. & 5ds. 

-Mary Jane Daughter of Stephen D. & Jane H. Wood Died 



Dec. 11, 1874. Ae. 28 ys. 

Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord : yea saith the 
spirit that they may rest from their labours. — Rev. 14-13. 



336 HATGROUND CEMETERY 

YOUNGS. Charlotte J. daughr. of Capt. David & Lucy A. Youngs 
died May 22, 1840 aged 2 vs. 22 ds. 

Sleep on sweet Babe and take thy rest 
God called thee home he thought it best. 

Note 

PIERSON. See Howell. 



HAYGROUND CEMETERY. 

BAKER. In memory of Agnes wife of Abraham Baker died Feb. 

28, 1822. Aged 52 years. 
In memory of Abraham Baker who died Sept. 30, 1827. Ae. 

74. 

-Silas H son of Gardiner & Nancy Baker died Feb. 10, 1832. 



Ae. 7 ys. 

-In memory of Edward L. Baker who was accidentally killed 



on board the Ship Henry Lee on the N. West Coast May 11, 
1844. Ae. 21 ys. 9 mo. 

When all was bright Death with his pall 
Met him upon the Ocean wave 
Far from his home, his friends, his all 
And laid him in his coral cave. 

-In memory of Nancy Relict of Gardiner Baker who died 



May 1, 1838. Ae. 42. 

-In memory of Gardiner Baker who died Dec. 20, 1831. Ae. 



39. 

CARWITHE. In memorv of Sarah Carwithe who died Oct. 20th, 

A. D. 1760. Aged 72 years. 
COOK. Thomas G. Cook Born Feb. 24, 1813. Died Oct. 10, 1855. 
In memory of Catharine Wife of Thomas G. Cook who died 

Dec. 23, 1842. Aged 29 years. 

Affliction sore longtime I bore 
Physicians were in vain 
Till death did ease and God did please 
To free me from my pain. 

-Our darling Effie, Daughter of Albert G. & Frances H. Cook 



died Aug. 18, 1861. Ae. 3 yrs. 4 mo. 

Shaft W. Side. Albert G. Cook died Nov. 3, 1877. Ae. 71 ys. 

& 4 mo. 

S. Side. Frances H. widow of Albert G. Cook died Jan. 24, 1885. 

Ae. 65 ys. & 9 mo. 

N. Side. Theodore Baldwin son of Albert G. & Frances H. Cook 

who was drowned while bathing in the ocean Aug. 5, 1870. Ae. 22 

yrs. 5 mo. 

He is not dead but sleepeth 
-Sarah widow of Alfred Cook died Feb. 12, 1877. Ae. 82 ys. 



& 6 mo. 

The Lord is my Shepherd I shall not want. 

Psalms 23. 1. 



HAYGROUND CEMETERY 337 

Jeremiah Halsey Cook Born Feb. 9, 1785 Died in San Fran- 
cisco, Cal. Sept. 14, 1850. 
Mary widow of J. H. Cook Died July 19, 1858. Ae. 71. 

Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord. 

George Washington son of Halsey & Mary Cook died Nov. 

12, 1823. Ae. 6 ys. & 6 mo. 

See here what cruel death hath done, 
Here sleeps in death an only son. 
Parents bleeding hearts now say, 
The Lord both gave and took away. 

George Washington, son of Capt. Jeremiah H. & Mary Cook 



died Nov. 24, 1831. Ae. 6 ys. 

Look here again as you pass by, 
Another George is called to die 
An only son from earth is taken 
God's will be done on earth & Heaven. 

Elizabeth P. widow of Sullivan Cook died Oct. 8, 1881. Ae. 

71 ys. & 10 mo. 

In memory of David Cook who died June 1, 1834 aged 49. 

-WilHam Son of Sullivan & Hannah Cook died Sept. 12, 1821. 



Aged 1 year & 5 mo. 

-Stephen R. & Sullivan sons of Richard & Phebe Cook were 



born July 19, 1848 died, Stephen R. Ae. 3 days. Sullivan Ae. 1 yr. 

Phebe Rose wife of Richard Cook died Aug. 3, 1888. Ae. 

71 yrs. 

She hath been a succourer of many. 

Richard Cook 1816-1907. 

Sacred to the memory of Edward Son of Samuel & Elizabeth 

Cook who died Oct. 9, 1832. Ae. 28. 

Lamented one, fond eyes. 

Have wept for thee till all their founts were dry, 

And from fond lips hath burst the thrilling cry. 

And moans and choking sighs. 

Have swelled the anguished heart & that deep grief 

To which nor time nor change can bring relief, 

Untimely sacrificed ! 

Friendship hath poured for thee the willing tear 

And strangers mourned thy doom, standing around thy bier 

-Charles Wesley Son of Halsey & Mary Cook died April 7, 



1822. Ae. 5 weeks. 

The Lord gave and the Lord hath taken away 
Blessed be the name of the Lord. 

-In memory of Betsey daugh. of Samuel & Elizabeth Cook 



who died Aug. 15, 1817 in the 19th year of her age. 

David Cook died Dec. 15, 1814. Ae. 94. 

Sullivan Cook Born Aug. 8, 1787. Died July 28, 1868. 



338 HATGROUND CEMETERY 

-In memory of Polly wife of Sullivan Cook who died Aug 



1811. Aged 21 years 4 mo. & 17 days. 

Calm and resigned dear Polly lies, 
Tho' snatched away from dearest friends, 
We trust she dwells above the skies. 
Where troubles cease & sorrow ends. 
She left a partner long to mourn, 
The loss of one so dear and kind. 
Grant him O ! Lord sufficient grace. 
Unto thy will to be resigned. 

Hannah Wife of Sullivan Cook Born Oct. 23, 1781. Died 

April 27, 1853. 

-In memory of Richard Williams Son of Nathan T. and Mary 



Cook Who died Nov. 13th, 1822. Aged 26 years. 

See blooming Williams in the clay cold tomb 
His soul has gone to an eternal home 
There early called alas how soon 
His morn of life just merging into noon. 

-In memory of Phebe Daughter of Nathan T. & Mary Cook 



who died Aug. 4th, 1802 Aged 1 year & 10 days. 

-Sacred to the memory of Elizabeth wife of Samuel Cook 



who died Aug. 11, 1834. Ae. 68. 

As a wife and parent she was kind affectionate & exemplary. 
She filled up life with usefulness & duty & died with a hope of a 
glorious immortality. 

Servant of God, well done. 

Thy glorious warfare's past 

The battle's fought the race is run 

And thou art crowned at last ; 

Of all thy heart's desire 

Triumphantly possessed 

Laid by the ministerial 

In thy Redeemer's breast. 

-Sacred to the memory of Samuel Cook who died Aug. 15, 



1833. Ae. 69. 

And oh ! the pangs a dying friend imparts 
When the last pangs divide two social hearts 
But God will to the fatherless a Father be 
The Widow's God, the Widow's Judge is he. 

-Alanson Cook born Aug. 7, 1808 died Feb. 9, 1892. Ae. 83 



ys. 6 mo. & 2 ds. 

-In memory of Mary relict of Nathan T. Cook who died Jan. 



12, 1860 in her 86th year. 

-In memory of Nathan Topping Cook who departed this life 



Jan. 13, 1822. Aged 54 Years. 

Weep on he cannot hear thee weep 
The loved one sleeps the dreamless sleep 
His voice is hushed his heart is cold 
The heart that loved us is cold forever. 



HAYGROUND CEMETERY 339 

In memory of Alfred Cook who departed this Hfe Oct. 6, 

1819 in the 26 year of his age. 

-In memory of Hubbard son of Theo. & Phebe Cook who died 



July 3, 1813 in the 11 year of his age. 

-Alfred H. son of Alfred & Sarah Cook died March 19th, 



1832. Ae. 13 ys. 1 mo. 

When you pass by remember me 
As you are now so once was I 
As I am now so you must be 
Prepare in time to follow me. 

Here lyes ye body of Mrs. Sarah Cook wife to Mr. Obadiah 

Cook aged about 36 years, died May ye 19th, 1729. 

-Here Lyes Buried ye Body of Mr. Obadiah Cook Who De- 



parted this Life August 1733. Aged 46 years. 

-Frances M. Halsey Wife of Alanson Cook born May 5, 



1808 died Dec. 25, 1897. 

-Caroline wife of Alanson Cook daughter of Elisha & Hannah 



Halsey died Aug. 16, 1852. Ae. 48. 
In memory of Jane Cook who died Feb. 9, 1845. Ae. 22. 



She crossed the chilling stream of death 

Without one anxious fear ; 

Calmly resigned her fleeting breath. 

Faith bro't the Saviour near. 

He took her gently by the hand 

And lead her to the "Spirit Land." M. L. G. 

-Sally G. widow of David Cook died Oct. 18th, 1860. Ae. 76 ys. 

Mother thou art gone to rest 
Thy toils and cares are oer 
And sorrow pain and suffering now 
Shall ne'er distress thee more. 

—In memory of Theophilus Cook who died June 16, 1842. Aged 
ys. 7 mo. & 19 ds. 
-Shaft W. Side. Jonathan R. Cook 1813-1903. 



Nancy J. Cook 1821-1880. At rest. 

N. Side. Annie J. Cook 1863-1890. Safe. 

S. Side. Helen M. Pierson 1836-1904. At home. 
CORWITH. Phebe daugh. of Caleb & Frances M. Corwith died 

Aug. 2, 1840. Ae. 39. ■ 

Respected loved and mourned. 
Monument IV. Side. David Corwith 1806-187S. 

His wife Cordelia W. 1809-1881. 

E. Side. Children of David & Cordelia Corwith. 

Charles C. 1834-1838. Ann E. 1841-1844. James H. 1835-1905. 
-Monument On top. Caleb Corwith 1768-1835. 



His wife Fanny M. 1766-1846. 

W. Side. Their children. 

Nathan 1793-1847. Sarah 1796-1872. Mary 1797-1798. Samuel 

1799-1808. Phebe 1801-1840. Emeline 1803-1813. Henry 1811-1813. 

E. Side. Edward Strong 1814-1872. 

His wife Frances C. 1809-1874. 



340 HATGROUND CEMETERY 

Their daughters. 
Frances M. 1841-1870. 
Annette B. 1837-1907. 

-And I will write upon him tny new name. William H. Corwith 



died Dec. 8, 1856. Ae. 32. He that believeth in me though he 
were dead yet shall he live. 

-Sacred to the memory of Samuel Corwith who died May 21, 



1831 aged 53 (?) years. 

His natural understanding was of a superfine order, his re- 
ligious principles strictly evangelical — his Christian deportment 
highly exemplary. He faithfully sustained the relations of human 
life. Adorned his profession of Godliness and died in the hope 
of a life of immortality. 

Puah Corwith died July 11, 1859. Ae. 68. 

CORWITHE. Anna W. widow of WilHam Corwithe died Feb. 7th, 
1865. Ae. 76 yrs. 

The Lord is my Shepherd I shall not want. 

William Corwithe died Aug. 10, 1862. Ae. 79 yrs. 6 mos. 

For I know that my Redeemer liveth. 

In memory of Mrs. Harriet wife of John Corwithe died Tuly 

10, 1837. Ae. 33. 

T'is God who lifts our comforts high 
Or sinks them in the grave 
He gives (and blessed be his name) 
He takes but what he gave. 

-Clarissa H. Daughter of John & Harriet Corwithe died Aug. 



20, 1836. Ae. 6 months. 

-In memory of Mary Relict of Caleb Corwithe who died April 



3, 1843. Ae. 

As a Christian she endeavored to be found faithful. For 
many years she was much devoted to tha perusal of the scriptures, 
^s a parent her children will arise and call her blessed. From 
the exercise of prayer and praise with Christian brethren, she sud- 
denly left the world for a mansion in her Father's house. 

-Mrs. Elizabeth wife of Silas Corwithe died Nov. 12, 1846. 



Ae. 58. 

Farewell dear friends, I'm going home 
My Savior smiles & bids me come 
Sweet angels beckon me away 
To sing God's praise in endless day. 

In memory of John Corwithe who died Jan. 1, 1829. Ae. 77. 

Life and the grave two different lessons give 
Life teaches how to die. Death how to live. 

In memory of Mrs. Ruth Corwithe wife of Mr. John Corwithe 

who died Jan'y 8th, 1812 in the 62d Year of her age. 

Weep not for me my children dear, 
I am not dead but sleeping here, 
My time is gone, my grave you see, 
Prepare in time to follovv me. 

-Silas W. son of John & Harriet Corwithe died March 8, 



1821. Ae. 3 yrs & 6 ds. 



HAYGROUND CEMETERY 341 

In memory of Caleb Corwithe who died Jan. 21, 1813. Ae. 61. 

Silas Corwithe died Dec. 16, 1858. Ae. 74. 

Therefore being justified by faith we have peace with God 
through our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans I. 1. 

-In memory of John Corwithe who died Nov. 28, 1846. Ae. 48 



yrs. 6 mo. 
COSTELLO. Shaft S. Side. Laura E. daughter of Edward & 

Isabella Costello died March 9, 1879. Ae. 2 weeks. 

W. Side. John Porter died April 9, 1875. Ae. 60 ys. 
DOXEY. Charles J. Doxey 1824-1898. Rest in peace. 
Charlotte C. wife of Charles J. Doxey died March 1, 1872. 

Ae. 39 ys. & 9 mo. 

Asleep in Jesus — Blessed sleep. 

Charlotte A. Doxey died Feb. 12th» 1864. Ae. '29 yrs. 

Rest in peace. 
FORDHAM. In memory of Mary wife of William Fordham who 

died April 6th, 1841. Aged 32 years. 
In memory of Hannah wife of John Fordham died April 25, 

1849. ■^e. 66. 

Farewell and shall we meet, In Heaven above, 
Ana there in union sweet, Sing of a Saviour's love. 

In memory of John Fordham died Dec. 4, 1855. Ae. 77. 

Calm and serene he yields his mortal breath. 
In hopes of bliss he triumphs over death. 

Died Aug. 21, 1851. Andrew P. Fordham. Ae. 46. 

-Died Aug. 31, 1851. Mary E. widow of Andrew P. Fordham. 



Ae. 43. 
GOODALE. Shaft W. Side. Captain Charles A. Goodale died 

Sept. 10, 1878. Ae. 64 ys. & 7 mo. 

Emily wife of Capt. Charles A. Goodale died Feb. 26, 1846. Ae. 

30 ys. 

Eliza J. wife of Capt. Chas. A. Goodale born Oct. 5, 1828 died 

Feb. 22, 1897. 

5". Side. Children of Capt. Charles A. & Emily Goodale. 

Emily died Sept. 20, 1846. Ae. 7 mo. 

Charles E. died July 17, 1862. Ae. 18 yrs. 

Children of Capt. Charles A. & Eliza J. Goodale. 

Augustus E. died Sept. 16, 1864. Ae. 11 mo. 

James M. died Aug. 29, 1864. Ae. 16 yrs. 
HAINS. 

HAINES. In memory of Dean James Hains who died Deer. 24 
HAYNES. A. D. 1779. Aged 77 years & 5 days. 
Here lies the Body of Mrs. Martha wife of Dean. James Hains 

who died Novr. 29th, 1787 in the 82 year of her age. 

-Mehetable Wife of David Hains who departed this life June 



11, 1817 in the 67 year of her age. 

David Hains departed this life Dec. 19, 1798. Aged 50 years. 

-Here Hes Buried the Body of Mr. James Hains who Deed. 



Septbr. ye 6thi, 1732 in ye 60th Year of his Age. 

-Here Lyes ye Body of Sarah Hains wife to James Hains who 



deprtd this life Deer, ye 21st, 1721 in the 54th year of her age. 



342 HAYGROUND CEMETERY 

-Here lyes ye Body of Mary Daur. of James & Martha Hains 



Died April ye 7th, 1755 in ye 19th year of her age. 

-Charry daughr. of Col. David & Sarah Haynes Died Nov. 



23, 1828. Ae. 20 ys. 9 mo. 

From the sweet circle of domestic love 
The fairest one was soonest called above 
Thus life's gay visions cruel death destroys 
And thus must perish all terrestrial joys. 

Sarah wife of Col. David Haynes died Nov. 30, 1834. Ae. 58. 

Thus by recurrence of time 

Her birth wedding and dying day were one. 

As a wife, a mother, a sister, a friend, 

As a Christian each grace did most beautifully blend. 

In silent submission she kissed the rod 

Nor repined at the will of her covenant God. 

By faith she descried the sweet mansion rest 

The above of the Christian the home of the blest. 

The hour of release was the end of her pain 

And death to the soul of our Sister was gain. 

-In memory of Stephen son of James & Mary Hains who died 



Janry. 19th, 1773 in the 9th year of his age. 

-In memory of Job son of James & Mary Hains who died Oct. 



6th, 1776 in the 15th Year of his age. 

-Martin L. & John C. sons of J. & M. Haines died Oct. 3, 



1827. Ae. 5 months. 

Jeremiah Haynes 1828-1849. Buried in California. 

To live in hearts we leave behind is not to die. 
Clarissa J. Haines 1811-1908. 

I shall be satisfied when I awake in His likeness. 
Children of Jeremiah & Mehetabel Haines. 
Shaft S. Side. Dea Jeremiah Haines died Aug. 29, 1871. Aged 



88 years. 

Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the chil- 
dren of God. 

Mehetabel wife of Dea. Jeremiah Haines died Aug. 26, 1863. Aged 
78 years. 

Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God. 
E. Side. Lizzie R. daughter of Wm. C. & Frances M. Haines died 
August 11, 1872. Aged 14 years. 

Even so Father, for so it seemed good in thy sight. 
W. Side. Capt. William C. Haines died Oct. 23 1886. Aged 69 
years. 

And they shall see his face and his name shall be in their 
foreheads. 

-In memory of Maria Louisa daughr. of Mehcytabel Haynes who 



died 28 Aug. 1814. Ae. 4 mo. & 14 ds. 

-Mary daughter of J. & M. Haynes died Oct. 9, 1815. Ae 4 



months. 

HALSEY. In memory of Jane Relict of Silas Halsey who died 
Oct. 9, 1836. Ae. 80. 



HAYGROUND CEMETERY 343 

In memory of Charles C. only son of Thomas B. & Ellen A. 

Halsey died at sea Nov. 5th, 1864. Ae. 21 yrs. 

And the sea shall give up the dead that are in it. 

Thomas B. Halsey died April 24, 1860. Ae. 47. 

I will that they also whom thou hast given me be with me 
where I am. 

-Ellen A. widow of Thomas B. Halsey died April 30, 1869. Ae. 



52 yrs. 

Watch therefore far yei k^ow not what hour your Lord 
doth come. 

Elisha Halsey died Oct. 20, 1858. Ae. 82. 

-Hannah Widow of Elisha Halsey died Aug. 4, 1870. Ae. 92 



ys. & 9 mo. 

In memory of Hezekiah Halsey who died Aug. 8, 1847. Ae. 68. 

Sarah widow of Hezekiah Halsey died May 20, 1858. Ae. 75. 

In memory of Polly Daughter of Timothy and Mary Halsey 



who died Sept. 20th, 1796 in the 6 Year of her age. 

-In memory of Matsey wife of Alva Halsey who died Feb. 9, 



1823 in her 26 year. 

Long pause — nor weep beside this tomb 
And O ! Affection stay thy tear 
For all is calm beneath this sod 
Nor pains nor sorrows enter here. 

-In memory of Jane Wife of Ethan Halsey who died June 



18, 1824 in her 64 year. 

Weep not my friends and children dear 
I am not dead but only sleeping here. 

-In memory' of Ethan Halsey Who departed this life April 18, 



1827 in the seventy-third year of his age. 

This spot contains the ashes of the just 
Who sought no honors and betray'd no trust. 
This truth he prov'd in every path he trod 
An honest man's the noblest work of God. 

-Mary widow of David Halsey Born Sept. 6, 1792 Died Jan. 



19, 1853. 

-David Halsey born Oct. 17;, 1790 died Nov. 8, 1843. 



James B. son of David & Mary Halsey born Nov. 28th, 1817 

died Jan. 20th, 1864. 

-In memory of Luther Halsey who died May 29, 1849. Aged 



54 years. 

T. Josephus Halsey died Aug. 31, 1855. Ae. 3L 

Hannah relict of Ethan Halsey died Feb. 22, 1853. Aged 72. 

-In memory of Ethan Halsey who died March 18, 1845. Aged 



66. 

-In memory of James Halsey Born Oct. 17, 1792. Died Jan. 



7, 1848 aged 56 yrs. 2 mos. & 21 days. 

-In memory of Fannie Widow of James Halsey Born May 9, 



1795. Died July 24th, 1882. Ae. 87 ys. 2 mo. & 15 ds. 

-Sarah Jane daughter of Jasper & Hannah Halsey died May 



23, 1849. Ae. 29 yrs. 11 mo. & 14 ds. 



344 HAYGROUND CEMETERY 

In memory of Jasper Halsey died July 28, 1853. Ac. 65. 

Hannah widow of Jasper Halsey died Jan. 22, 1881. Ae. 87 ys. 

Harriet A. Halsey died May 24, 1875. Ae. 53 ys. 9 mo. 

-Herman R. Halsey died Jan. 16, 1893. Ae. 77 ys. 3 mo. & 



26 ds. 

Whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. 

John 11. 26. 

Capt. Sylvanus Halsey died Mar. 27, 1854. Ae. 95. 

-Mar> Wife of Capt. Sylvanus Halsey died Mar. 22, 1850. 



Ae. 67. 

-Phebe wife of Capt. Silvanus Halsey died Nov. 26, 1831. 



Ae. 71. 

-Phebe daughter of Silvanus & Phebe Halsey died Aug 7, 1822. 



Ae. 34 ys. 3 mo. 

-Catherine Daughter of Sylvanus & Phebe Halsey died Feb. 



7, 1875. Ae. 83 yrs. & 3 mo. 

Henry H. Halsey Departed this life July 27, 1834. Ae. 25. 

Ruth widow of Elihu Halsey died April 19, 1859. Ae. 73. 



Dear children who live to mourn and weep 
Behold the grave wherein I sleep 
Prepare for death, know you must die 
And be entombd, as well as I. 

Elihu Halsey died Oct. 14, 1830. Ae. 48 yrs. 1 mo. 16 d. 

Angeline daughter of Elihu & Ruth Halsey died March 13, 

1829. Ae. 7 mo_. 10 ds. 

-Shaft N. Side. Jane daughter of Eathen & Hannah Halsey 



died Sept. 10, 1879. Ae. 65 ys. 
W. Side. Thomas Halsey born May 30, 1812 died 1899 Jan. 1st. 
-S". Side. Melissa wife of Thomas Halsey died Tan. 6, 1875. Ae. 
70 ys. 

-David R. Halsey Born July 21, 1858. Died Nov. 3, 1880. Ae. 



22 ys. 3 mo. & 12 ds. 

Faithful, Loving, Conscientious — An earnest Student and a 
firm believer in Jesus Christ. 

Father I will that they also whom thou hast given me be 
with me where I am. John XVII. 24 

He that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he 
live. John XI. 25. 

-Mary M. Miller wife of Herman R. Halsey and daughter of 



David H. Miller Born Oct. 17, 1818. Died March 24, 1877. Ae. 
58 ys. 5 mo. & 7 ds. 

In my Father's house are many mansions. I go to prepare a 
place for you. John XIV. 2. 

(Stepiihen Rose son of Herman R. & Hetty R. Halsey Born 



April 9, 1849. Died Oct. 11, 1860. Verse illegible. 

-Hetty Rose wife of Herman R. Halsey and daughter of Dea. 



Stephen Rose Born Aug. 24, 1815 Died May 24, 1851. 

-Mary, daughr. of Rogers & Elizabeth Halsey died July 23, 



1812. Ae. 1 yr. & 23 ds. 

-Elizabeth widow of Rogers Halsey and daughter of David 



Howell Born Oct. 11, 1777. Died May' 29, 1861. Ae. 83. 
I know that my Redeemer liveth. 



HA YG ROUND CEMETERY 345 

Rogers Halsey Born Sept. 7, 1776. Died Oct. 16, 1854. 

I am the resurrection and the life. 

Harrie son of Henry R. & A. A. Halsey died Jan. 24, 1878. 

Ae. 2 ds. 

-In memory of James Lawrence son of Elihu & Ruth Halsey 



who died Aug. 1, 1841 aged 20 yrs. 7 mo. 

Here lies my son in death's cold sleep 
Which causes many a tear of grief 
Submit my heart say peace be still 
T'is but my Heavenly Father's will. 

HAND. Mehettable Wife of Bartlett Hand departed this life Jan. 

26, 1821 in her 26 year. 
Mary W^ife of Elias Hand Died May 10, 1833. Ae. 66. 

Here sleeps a woman of a blameless life 
The tender Mother and the faithful Wife. 

Elias Hand Died Sept. 16, 1842. Ae. 72. 

Andrew P. son of Hervey & Bethiah Hand died Aug. 25, 



1833. Ae. 1 yr. 3 ds. 

Bethia wife of Hervey Hand Died April 13, 1836. Ae. 39. 

Marcus Hand died April 2, 1857. Ae. 23. 

Sarah Hand died May 28, 1856. Ae. 25. 

Calm and resigned dear Sarah lies. 
Early taken from dearest friends 
We trust she dwells above the skies 
Where troubles cease and sorrow ends. 

Abigail widow of Hervey Hand died Aug. 28, 1864. Ae. 71. 

-Hervey Hand died June 18, 1854. Ae. 53. 



HEDGES. The graves of 

James M. Hedges who died July 27, 1848. Ae. 20 ys. 10 mo. & 

Edwin B. Hedges who died July 2, 1848. Ae. 15 yrs. 8 mo. sons 

of Lyman G. & Ruth Hedges. 

Our record is in Heaven 
In memory of Jerusha wife of Lvman G. Hedges who died 

Jan. 17, 1824. Ae. 25 ys. & 9 mo. 

Love pause nor weep beside this tomb 
And oh ! Affection stay thy tear 
For all is calm beneath this sod 
Nor pains nor sorrows enter here. 

HOWELL. In memory of Theophilus Howell who died November 

1st, 1764 in the 68th Year of his Age. 
In memory of Doctr. Theophilus Howell who departed this 

life Aug. 21st A. D. 1775 in the 38th Year of his Age. 
JAGGER. In memory of Jonathan Jagger who died March ye 2d 

A. D. 1761. Aged 83 Years. 
JASON. Henry Jason Died Sept. 23, 1889. Ae. 68 Yrs. 

Gone but not forgotten. 
Louisa wife of Henry Jason died Oct. 12, 1855. Ae. 28 ys. 

6 mo. 

Thy memory we cherish. 



346 HAYGROUND CEMETERY 

JESSUP. In memory of Mary C. widow of John S. Jessup former 
wife of Edward Rose who died Nov. 29, 1891. Ae. 80 ys. & 6 mo. 

KING. In memory of Mary Rogers King Died September 23, 1891. 
Daughter of David- & Mary Halsey Wife of WilHam King. 

James H.son' of William & Mary R. King died January 22nd, 

1853 aged 1 year & 8 months. 

James, our only boy 

LANGDON. Sarah M. Widow of William J. Langdon Jan. 11, 
1815. Oct. 24, 1887. 

Because I live, ye shall live also 
LEA. Catherine R. wife of the Rev. Thomas D. Lea died July 16th, 
1845. Aged 30 years. 

Christ the first fruits ; afterward they that are Christ's, at his 
coming. 

LEEK. Eliza M. wife of Samuel C. Leek died Jan. 22, 1847 aged 

31 years & 10 mos. Verse illegible. 

Margaret wife of John C. Leek died Nov. 11, 1848. Ae. 39. 

Josephine daughter of John C. & Margaret Leek died March 

26, 1836. Ae. 18 mos. 17 ds. 

Go to thy rest my child 
Go to thv dreamless bed 
Gentle and undefiled 
With blessings on thy head. 

LOPER. Ruth Corwith Loper born Sept. 1795 died Sept. 12, 1877. 

Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God. 
LUDLOW. William H. Ludlow 1848-1910. 

1 am the resurrection and the life. 

riarriette Conger Daughter of Sarah & Gabriel Halsey and 

widow of Jesse H. Ludlow born Oct. 2, 1812 died April 23, 1890. 
Whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. 

Jesse H. Ludlow born Aug. 18, 1805 died Jan. 9, 1878. 

I give unto them eternal life. 

Walter Ludlow died July 10, 1873. Ae. 22 ys. 10 mo. 

Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord. 

Annie W. Ludlow 1856-1908. Rest in peace. 

Walter Ludlow 1880-1901. 

-Clara Ludlow 1882-1894. 



MALCOLM. The grave of Nancy widow of Hugh Malcolm died 
Nov. 27, 1817. Ae. 48. 

PAINE. In memory of the Rev. Mr. Elisha Paine V.D.M. who 
Died Aug. 26 A. D. 1775. Ae. 83. Was born upon Cape Cod and 
from thence with his Hon. Father Mr. Elisha Paine removed to 
Canterbury in Connecticut where he practiced the Law as an 
Attor. with Great approbation and Fidelity until A. D. 1742. From 
thence became preacher of ye Gospel and was Ordained ye first 
Minister over ye Congregational Church of Christ in this place 
May 11th A. D. 1752. Henceforth he rests from his labours. 

PARKER. Nancy wife of Rodney Parker died Sept. 10, 1868. Ae. 
70 yrs. 7 mos. 



HAYGROUND CEMETERY 347 

Rodney Parker died at Oden, Illinois Oct. 23, 1871. Ae. 79 

yrs. 3 mos. 

Our little Caddy. 

-In memory of Samuel son of Rodney & Nancy Parker Who 



died Sept. 9, 1845. Ae. 23. 

Farewell /dear friends my memory keep 
While in death's arms my body sleep 
Short was my stay with you below 
Sooner or later all must go. 

ROGERS. Susannah Wife of William Rogers Died Sept. 16, 1844 
Ae. 66. 

In memory of Mrs. Mary Rogers wife of Capt. William 

Rogers who died April 28, 1808 in the 63 year of her age. 

Sacred to the memory of Capt. William Rogers who departed 

this life the 11th day of November A. D. 1813 in the 70th year of 
his age. 

Man dies to live and lives to die no more. 

In memory of Hezekiah son of Capt. William & Mrs. Mary 

Rogers who died Novr. 18th, 1770 in the 6th Year of his Age. 
-In memory of Mary wife of John Rogers who died 1844. 



Ae. 72. 

-In memory of Mr. John Rogers who died May 26th, 1798 in 



the 68th Year of his age. 

-In memory of Mrs. Mary Rogers Wife of Mr. Caleb Rogers 



who died deer. 25th, 1789 in the 26th Year of her age. 

C. R. 1772. 

Charles Rogers Died Oct. 24, 1891. Ae. 74 ys. & 10 mo. 

William Rogers Died Jan. 8, 1860. Ae. 77. 

William H. Rogers 1843-1912. 

Captain Jones Rogers Died July 16th, 1886. Ae. 84 yrs. 

Sanctified in Christ Jesus. I. Cor. 12. 
-Hannah Wife of Capt. Jones Rogers Died May 26th, 1878. 



Ae. 72 yrs. 

Richard O. Rogers died Aug. 8, 1870. Ae. 62 ys. & 10 mo. 

Elizabeth P. widow of Richard O. Rogers died April 12, 

Ae. 82 ys. & 11 mo. 
-Here lies Buried ye Body of Jonathan only Son of William 



Rogers who Deed. Octbr. ye 7, 1732. Aged 7 years. 

-Sacred to the memory of Frances Eliza wife of Jeremiah 



Rogers died Aug. 12, 1832. Aged 22 years 6 months and 27 days. 

She's gone, alas, the much lov'd one has fled 
Just in her bloom, she's numbered with the dead 
Yet Memory's floweret oer her turf shall bloom 
Till she arise triumphant from the tomb. 

Jeremiah Rogers died June 5, 1859. Ae. 62. 

-Sacred to the memory of John T. Rogers who died Oct. 9, 



1816. Aged 57 years. 

-Sacred to the memory of Sarah widow of the late John T. 



Rogers who departed this life the 24th day of May, 1825. Aged 
66 years 3 months and 28 days. 



348 HATGROUND CEMETERY 

Bethiah Wife of Caleb Rogers Died Oct. 8, 1824 in her 29 
year. 

Then weep not, fond afflicted friends 
Death is the Angel Jesus sends 
To bear the Sainted soul on high 
Beyond the reach of human eye. 

Jonathan Son of Caleb & Bethiah Rogers Died April 15, 

1834 in his 11 year. Verse illegible. 

-Cordelia daughr. of Caleb & Cordelia Rogers born Dec. 9, 



1831 died Feb. 19,a832. 

-Charles A. son of Caleb & Cordelia Rogers died Dec. 11, 



1834 Ae. 7 yrs. Verse illegible. 

-In memory of Caleb Rogers born March 7, 1796 died Feb. 



3d 1842. 

-Cordelia H. widow of Caleb Rogers died May 22, 1871. Ae. 



75 yrs. 

-Temperance E. daughter of Caleb & Cordelia H. Rogers died 



Dec. 3d 1853. Ae. 18 yrs. 10 mos. 

Young and lovely. 

James H. Rogers died Sept. 16th, 1864. Ae. 34 yrs. 6 mos. 

And we all do fade as a leaf. 
-Mary M. Daughter of Caleb & Cordelia H. Rogers died Nov 



13, 1898. Ae. 63 ys. 2 mo. & 4 ds. 

-In memory of Jonathan Rogers Esq. who died Jan. 26 1819. 



Aged 7Z years. 

-In memory of Mary Wife of Jonathan Rogers Esq. who died 



Nov. 30, 1815 aged 73 years. 

-In memory of Katherine Rogers Daughter of Jonathan & 



Mary Rogers who died Nov. 25, 1810 aged 26 years. 

-In memory of Abigail wife of Benjamin Rogers died Mar. 



30, 1822. Aged 54 years. 
Benjamin Rogers born Nov. 29, 1769 died April 2, 1842. 

Hark from the tombs a doleful sound, 

My ears attend the cry. 

Ye living men come view the ground 

Where you must shortly lie. 

Princes, this day must be your bed 

In spite of all your towers. 

The tall, the wise, the reverent head 

Shall Jie as low as ours. 

Henry Rogers Born Oct. 5, 1792. Died March 1, 1856. Ae. 65. 

-Mother — Mary wife of B. F. Rogers died Oct. 5, 1873. Ae. 



64 yrs. Verse illegible. 

-Father — Benjamin F. Rogers died April 5, 1891. Ae. 89 ys. 



10 mo. & 10 ds. 

-Phebe Rose daughter of) Benjamin F. & Mary Rogers died July 



11, 1893. Ae. 48 ys. 11 mo. & 25 ds. 

In my Father's house are many mansions. John 14. 2. 
-Melanie daughter of Benjamin F. & Mary Rogers died April 



27, 1904. Ae. 66 ys. 10 mo. & 3 ds. 

I go to prepare a place for you. John 14. 2. 



HAYGROUND CEMETERY 349 

Edwin M. Rogers Aug. 28, 1839. Feb. 9, 1912. 

Richard son of Edwin M. & Phebe E. Rogers born Oct. 30th, 

1875. Died Sept. 23rd, 1881. 

Suffer Uttle children to "come unto me and forbid them not. 

ROSE. The Grave of Frances Mary daughr. of Rufus & Phebe 
Rose who died Feb. 11, 1803. Ae. 2 ys. 11 mo. 18 ds. 

I saw a little tender bud put forth. 

T'was lovely, fair and fragrant in its kin"d. 

At early dawn I watch'd to see it bloom. 

The sun arose, the bud began to ope. 

It saw the morn, blushed, then droop'd and died. 

-In memory of Abraham Rose who died April 10, 1791 in the 



65th Year of his age. 

Why should faith fear this parting pain 
We die that we with Christ may reign. 
Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord. 

Ruth Haines wife of Abraham Rose died January, 1793. 

In memory of Adeline Cecilia wife of David P. Rose who 

died Oct. 5, 1845. Aged 34 years. 

Rufus Rose born March 19th, 1775 died June 9th, 1835. 

-Col. Edwin Rose 1807-1864 U. S. Military Academy Officer 



U. S. Army. State Legislator. 

-Sarah E. Isham widow of Edwin Rose, Born at New London, 



Conn., Aug. 25, 1812 died at Sag Harbor, N. Y. Dec. 6, 1889. 
-Phebe S. Rose wife of Rufus Rose Born October 26, 1789. 



Died March 29, 1842. 

-Mary Frances June 14, 1804-Feb. 19, 1864. 



Emma Feb 11, 1802-April 2, 1865. 
Thomas Sandford July 24, 1809-Aug. 26, 1867. 

ROSE. 

Eliza Isham Rose. Born 1834. Died 1906. 

-Rufus Rose. Dec. 22, 1840. Jan. 21, 1914. 



Abraham, son of Maltby and Phebe Rose, died Sept. 12, 1820. 

Aged 5 years, 2 months and 12 days. 

-Elizabeth Gelston, daughter of Maltby and Phebe Rose, died 



Sept. 19, 1820, aged 2 years, 2 mos. and 19 days. 

-In memory of Mary, wife of Gen. Abraham Rose, who died 



Sept. 3, 1830, in the 61 year of her age. 

-In memory of Gen. Abraham Rose, who died Aug. 22, 1843, 



in the 78 year of his age. 

Phebe, wife of Maltby G. Rose, died Sept. 11, 1861. Age 



74 years. 

Maltby G. Rose, died Nov. 19, 1863. Ae. 73 years. 

-Or ever the silver cord be loosed — Mary R. Halsey, wife of 



Elbert Rose, Died Jan. 10, 1864. Ae. 39 years. 

-Elbert Rose, died June 29, 1888. Ae. 63 years, 10 mos. and 



17 ds. 

-Died Mary C, daughter of Edward and Mary C. Rose. Aug. 



26, 1849. Ae. 4 mo. 18 ds. 

Also, Aug. 20, 1852, Edward W. Ac. 6 mo. 



350 H Ay GROUND CEMETERY 

Edward Rose, died Nov. 24, 1852. Ae. 53 ys. 9 mo. 

Here within this grave now sleeps 
The husband, Father, friend ; 
Here the lips of truth are sealed 
And mercy's journey's end. 

-In memory of Mrs. Freelove H., wife of Edward Rose, died 



Oct. 24, 1846. Age 48. 

I leave the world without a tear. 
Save for the friends I hold so dear; 
I die in Jesus and am blest. 
How kind these slumber, sweet their rest. 



-; Mary A., daughter of Edward & Freelove Rose, died Sept. 

11, 1827. Ae. 5 mo. 

-Caroline M., daughter of Edward & Freelove Rose, died 



Jan. 24, 1869. Ae. 40 yrs. 
ROUKE. Nellie M., daughr. of John and Margaret Rouke. Ae. 

2 ys. and 7 mos. 
SQUIRES. Ellis Squires, died Nov. 17, 1853. Ae. 75 ys., 11 mos. 
Sarah Brown, wife of Sylvanus Squires Jun. died May 18, 

1861. Ae. 71 yrs. 10 mos. 
Sylvanus Squires, died May 2, 1872. Ae. 64. 



Our husband and father lies neath this cold sod. 
His body is resting, his soul is with God; 
We hope we inay ineet him when trials are o'er. 
And happy in Heaven be parted no more. 



Fanny E. Widow of Sylvanus Squires, died Aug. 13, 1880. 

Ae. 53 ys. 4 mo. and 11 ds. 

-Albert E., son of Albert E. and Sarah C. Squires, died May 



23, 1871. Ae. 22 yrs. 3 mos. 

Dearest father weep not for me 
Brother, sisters, friends, adieu. 
Death's cold dulling flood I've passed 
And in Heaven wait for you. 

Annette, daughter of Albert E. and Sarah A. Sqaires, 



died Aug. 5, 1861. Ae. 15 ys. 9 mo. 

A light is from our household gone, 
A voice we loved is still 
A place is vacant at our hearth 
Which time can never fill. 

-In memory of Sarah A., wife of Albert Squires, who died 



Nov. 23, 1&45. Ae. 24. 

Let weeping virtue mourn around thy tomb, 
And pious friendship wail thine early doom; 
Yet worth like thine sustains no rude decay, 
Tho' time should sweep these sculptured lines away. 

-Sarah C, wife of Albert E. Squires, died Oct. 22,,, 1862. Ae. 



36 ys. 9 mos. 



HAYGROUND CEMETERY 351 

Albert E. Squires 1810-1907. 

A light is from the household gone, 
A voice we loved is still; 
A place is vacant at our hearth, 
Which time can never fill. 

C. Everett, son of Albert E. and Sarah C. Squires, died Nov. 

29th, 1874. Ae. 21 yrs. and 6 mo. 
STRONG.-] Shaft N. Side. He carries the lambs, in his bosom. 

Albert J., son of James H. and Mary L. Strong. Died Feb, 18, 

1882. Ae. 1 yr. & 4 mo. 

E. Side. Albert G. Jennings. Died May 9, 1889. Ae. 61 ys. & 

3 mo. 

S. Side. Asleep in Jesus. Abbie H. daughter of Albert G. & Emma 

Jennings. Died Feb. 9, 1882. Ae. 19ys. & 6 mo. 

Bertie our only boy died Jan. 5, 1869. 
Of such is the Kingdom of Heaven. 

W. Side. Mary L. wife ofi Tames H. Strong 1858-1901. 
William R. Strong born May 5, 1832 died Jan. 10, 1895. 

There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. 
SWEENY. Shaft W. Side. Sweeny gone but not forgotten. 

Captain Doyle Sweeny died March 14, 1887. Ae. 72 ys. & 4 

ds. 
Matsey Cook widow of Capt. Doyle Sweeny died April 3, 1887. 

Ae. 69 ys. 4 mo. & 10 ds. 

A'. Side. Henry G. Sweeny died March 25, 1861. Ae. 17 ys. 

1 mo. & 14 ds. 
Phebe Jane daughter of John & Phebe H. Sweeny died 

Feb. 1, 1850. Ae. 1 yr. 6 mo. 

Ere sin could blight or sorrow fade 
Death came with friendly care 
The opening bud to heaven conveyed 
And bade it blossom there. 

Phebe H. Wife of Capt. John Sweeny died May 11, 1854. 

Ae. 42. 

Capt. John Sweeny died Feb. 23, 1857. Ae. 47. 

Henry G. son of Capt. Doyle and Matsey C. Sweeny died 

March 25th, 1861. Ae. 17 ys. 

-John D. son of Capt. John & Phebe H. Sweeny died 



March 12th, 1864. Ae. 20 yrs. 9 mos. 

Affliction sore long time he bore 
Physicians were in vain 
Till death gave ease and God did please 
To pain. 

TALMADGE. Ezra Talmadge died Feb. 15, 1888. .'\e. 82 ys. 7 mo. 
& 10 ds. 

God touched him with his hand and he slept. 

Nancy his wife died May 5, 1840. Ae. 41 ys. 2 mo. & 12 ds. 
The righteous shall see God. 



352 HAYGROUND CEMETERY 

TOPPIN. Here lies ye Body of Mrs. Hannah Toppin who died 
Augt. ye 2d, in ye 7Z Year of her Age. 

TOPPING. Anna E. daughter of Charles C. & Emma P. Top- 
ping died June 23d, 1876. Ae. 28 ys. Asleep in Jesus. 

Emma P. wife of Charles C. Topping died Sept. 7, 1881. Ae. 

66 y^. & 6 mo. 

Even so, them also which sleep in Jesus, will God bring 
with him. 

Charles C. Topping died Sept. 20, 1891. Ae. 77 ys. & 3 Mo. 

At rest. 

-Mrs. Puah wife of Jesse Topping Died Jan. 30, 1817. Aged 



41. Erected by George S. Topping. 

-Jesse Halsey son of George S. & Mary L. Topping died 



Aug. 12, 1836. Ae. 11 mo. 

I take these little lambs, said he, 
And lay them in my breast. 
Protection they shall find in me. 
In me be ever blest. 



In memory of Hepzibah wife of Ethan Topping who died 

Oct. 14, 1825. Ae. 70. 

-In memory of Ethan Topping who died April 6, 182'^. Ae. 



78. 

-Here lies ye Body of Capt. Josiah Topping who died Jany. 



11th, 1725-6, in ye 64 Year of his Age. 

-In memory of John Topping who died May 9th, 1747 in ye 



42d Year of his Age. 

-In memory of Nathan Topping who died Aug. 30th, 1753 in 



ye 17th Year of his Age. 

-James Halsey, son of George S. & Mary L. Topping, died 



Nov. 25, 1853. Ae. 16 ys. 4 mo. & 15 ds. 

An angel wandering from the skies 

Beheld a jewel rare. 

And in the tyrant death disguis'd. 

Conveys the jewel there 

And placed it in the Saviour's breast 

To be the Prince of Glory's guest. 

Parnissa L. Topping died Dec. 15, 1905. Ae 64 ys. 2 mo. & 

24 ds. 

She hath done what she could. 
-Emma P. infant daughter of Chas. C. & Emma P. Topping died 



Nov. 15, 1846. 

Suflfer little children to come unto me. 
-Henrie D. son of Chas. C. & Emma P. Topping died Sept. 13, 



1852. Ae. 17 ds. 

For of such is the Kingdom of Heaven. 
-In memory of Martha relict of Job Topping who died Jan. 15, 



1842, aged 78 years. 

Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord. 
In memory of Job Topping who died June 8, 1834, aged 74 years. 

Blessed are they who keep his commandments. 



OLD CEMETERY 353 

WHITE. Wm. W. White born Sept 14, 1829 died April 29, 1853. Ae. 

23. 
Thomas O., son of Josiah H. & Julia White. Born April 5th, 

1834, and died January 29th, 1840. 

Julia O., widow of Josiah White, died March 12, 1873. Ae. 73 yrs. 

Josiah H. White died May 5th, 1864. Ae. 63 yrs. 

-In memory of Clarissa, wife of Deacon Silas White, who died 



March 23rd, 1836, in the 56th year of her age. 

She was a devoted servant of Jesus Christ — patient under 
affliction and earnestly desired the salvation of Man. 

-In memory of Deacon Silas White who died Nov. 3rd A. D., 



1827 in the 51st year of his age. He was a benefactor of man, 
faithful in his house, consistent in the discharge of duty, an 
ornament of his profession and one who feared God. 
WILLIAMS. In memory of Abigail the wife of Daniel Williams 
who was drowned with her husband March 25th, 1764, in ye 26th 
year of her age. 

In memory of Daniel Williams of Seabrook who was drowned 

with his wife March 25th, 1764, in ye 28th year of his age. 
NOTE:— 

Strong, see Corwith, 
Porter, see Costello, 
Pierson, see Cook, 
Jennings, see Strong. 



OLD CEMETERY. 
Main Street 

ALLEN. Fanny W. wife of William H. Allen born July 12, 812. 

Died Dec. 15, 1893. Ae. 81 years. At rest. 
AUSTIN. Jane, wife of Samuel Austin, died April 23, 1862. Ae. 

40 ys. 

Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord. 
Ellen J. Austin, died Feb. 26. 1876. Ae. 18 ys. 2 mo. & iO ds. 

Jesus into thy faithful hand 

My naked soul I trust, 

My body waits for thy command 

To drop into the dust. Erected by her father. 

BAKER. Maria widow of Abraham Baker died Aug. 29th, 1865. 
Ae. 70 ys. 

Abraham Baker died Mav 16, 1852. Ae. 62. 

-Marthara, died Aug. 19, 1832. Ae. 3 ys. 



BENNETT. Polly K. wife of Lester Bennett, died July 13, 1869. 
Ae. 68 ys. 3 mo. 

He giveth his beloved sleep. 

Lester Bennett died Aug. 13, 1872. Ae. 74 yrs. 10 mo. 

Sleep on dear Father and take thv rest, 
God took the from us, he thought it best. 



354 OLD CEMETERY 

Caroline C. died March, 24, 1823. Ae. 8 mo. Sarah S. died 

Sept. 20, 1828. Ae. 2 ys. 1 mo. Children of Lester and Polly K. 
Bennett. 

Our days on the earth are as a shadow. 

BENWARE. Annie E. wife of Theophieus Benware died Aug. 8, 

1877. Ae. 39 ys. & 5 mo. 

For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. Phil. 1.22. 
BESHLE. To bloom in Heaven. 

Clarance son of Louis M. & Marv E. Beshle died Oct. 17, 1882. 
BISHOP. Jetur R. Bishop died Oct. 15th, 1889. Ae. 71 ys. 7 mo. 

& 7 ds. 

Lucy J. wife of Jetur R. Bishop died Jan. 14, 1885. Ae. 56 ys. 

3 mo. & 2 ds. 
BRADLEY. Gladys Foster, June 27, 1898. Aug. 4, 1898. 

Carolyn Foster, Sept. 17, 1894 Nov. 8, 1894. 

BRINCKERHOFF. Annie E. wife of W. E. Brinckerhoff died 

Oct. 19th, 1878. Ae. 25 ys. & 5 mo. At rest. 

W. E. Brinckerhoff died June 27, 1881. Ae. 29 ys. 

BROWN. In memory of Charles H. Brown, Corporal Co. E. 11th 

N. Y. Cavalry. Born March 13th, 1842, died 

Mother. Nancy wife of Henrv Brown. Born Oct. 2S, l'^99. 

died Dec. 22, 1889. 

Oh for a touch of a vanished hand. 
-In memory of Capt. Alexander Brown, who died suddenly 



of Apoplexy, in Bridgehampton Nov. 16, 1827. Ae. 53 & 55/2 
years after his arrival in America from England his native coun- 
try. 

Husband and parent in the Atlantic wave 

We mourn thy sudden death, thy distant grave 

By all belov'd with honest heart adorned 

By strangers honored and by strangers mourned. 

This humble memorial is erected by his affectionate and 
bereaved widow, Sarah V. Brown. 

Died Nov. 8, 1824. Samuel Brown. Ae. 51. 

-Died Feb. 18, 1852. Phebe, Relict of Samuel Brown. Ae. 



74. 

Died Sept. 20, 1821. Sarah, Relict of James Brown. Ae. 93. 

BROWNE. Apphia Browne, daughter of the Rev. James and Mrs. 
Sarah Browne, died Sept. 14th, 1783, in the 18th year of her age. 

In memory of the Rev. James Browne Pastor, of the Church 

of Christ in Bridgehampton, who died April 22nd, 1788, in the 
68th year of his age.* 
BURNETT. David L. son of David B. & Sarah J. Burnett died 

Sept. 11, 1870. 
BYRON. John Byron, died Aug. 27th, 1867. Ae. 23 yrs. 
CHATFIELD. John H. Chatfield died Dec. 26, 1865. Ae. 40 yrs. 
In the midst of life we are in death. 

• Esther E. Edwards widow of John H. Chatfield died Nov. 

3, 1899. Ae. 69 ys. 11 mo. & 7 ds. 

And they shall walk with them in white for they are worthy. 
-John G. Chatf^eH died Dec. 25, 1903. Ae. 42 yrs. 



Blessed are tht pure in heart, for they shall see God. 



OLD CEMETERY 355 

CONKLIN. Chloe widow of Elisha Conklin died May 13, 1855. 
Ae. 80 yrs. 8 mo. 

Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord. 
COOK. William N. Cook, 1826-1899. 

Cordelia A. Halsey, his wife 1829-1915. 
Temperance C. Wife of Rogers Cook died Nov. 22, 1856. Ae. 

43. 

I would not live always, I ask not to stay 
Where storm after storm rises dark o'er the way. 
The few lurid mornings that dawn on us here 
Are enough for life's woes, full enough for its cheer. 

Jane wife of Obadiah Cook died June 25, 1864. Ae. 85. 

-ObadiahCook born June 2, 1772, died Aug. 31, 1849. Aged 77. 



COOPER. Mable, Daughter of E. & A. A. Cooper, Died Sept. 26, 

1872. Ae. 3 mo. 

T. Emmett Cooper, Jan. 18, 1848— Nov. 5, 1911. 

Thomas H. Cooper, March 28, 1821— June 7, 1896. 

Maria Topping wife of Thomas H. Cooper April 14, 1821 — 

Dec. 17, 1888. 
COREY. David Alfred son of William & Matilda F. Corev died 

March 17, 1864. Ae. 10 ys. 9 mo. 

Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord. 
William Corey a Volunteer in Co. E., 11th N. Y. Cavalry. 

Died March 26th, 1865. Ae. 44 ys. 

-Matilda F. wife of William Corey died Sept. 27, 1884. Ae. 



54 3'rs. 3 mos. 
CORWIN. In memory of Prudence Corwin who died Jan. 7, 

1829. Ae. 81 ys. 8 mo.* 
CORWITH. Susan M. Corwith died May 20, 1888. Ae. 57 yrs. 

8 mos. 
David H. Corwith Born November 21st, 1821. Died Febiuar> 

17th, 1849. 

And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me. Write, Blessed 
are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth. Yea saith 
the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours ; and their 
works do follow them. Rev. XIV 13. 

Catherine F. widow of David H. Corwith. Died June 16th, 1866. 
-Hannah. Born May 24, 1846. Died Nov. 22, 1847. First 



child of D. H. & C. F. Corwith. 

-Davidetta, Born March 3, 1849. Died Sept. 6, 1852. Last 



child of D. H. & C. F. Corwith. 

-W. Augustus Corwith Born Sept. 13, 1825. Died May 2. 1902. 



Resurgam. 
Children of W. A. & S. B. Corwith. 
Eliza M. 1862. 

William S. 1866. 
-William Corwith. Born March 12, 1791. Died Aug. 27, 1872. 



Ae. 81 ys. & 5 mo. 

-Hannah wife of William Corwith. Born Dec. 11, 1792. Died 



Sept. 6, 1860. Ae. 67 ys. 9 mo. 

-Jerusha S. Edgar. Died at Rahway, N. J., Feb. 12, 1858. 



Ae. 30. 



356 OLD CEMETERY 

Chas. H. Corwith. Died at New Orleans Sept. 29, 1858. Ae. 35. 
Children of Wm. & Hannah Corwith. 
-Sarah Corwith born July 10th, 1826. Died January 20th, 



1912. Blessed are the pure in heart. 
Susan W. Corwith died April 6th, 1871. Ae. 51 ys. 

The days of thy mourning shall be ended. 

Isiah LX. 20. 
-Susan wife of Gurden Corwith born April 3rd, 17S9, died 



June 21st, 1873. 

Well done good and faithful servant; enter thou into the 
joy of thy Lord. 

Gurden Corwith born March 16th, 1789, died Oct. 15th. 1877. 

I trust in the mercy of God forever and ever. 
-Mason's Insignia. Silas W. Corwith, Born Sept. 21st, 1826. 



Died Sept. 1st, 1864. 

-Juliett G. widow of Edward H. Corwith died September 3rd, 



1863. Ae. 37 yrs. 7 mo. 

We which have believed do enter into rest. 
-John B. son of Gurden & Susan Corwith died Sept. 2S, 1833. 



Ae. 5 years. 
CORWITHE. Henry Corwithe departed this life May 21 1820. 

Aged 62 years and 13 days. 
In memory of Sarah H.wife of Henry Corwithe died May 

21st, 1826. Aged 65 years. 
CROOK. Sarah A. Crook March 3, 1843— July 6, 1901. 
DAYTON. In memory of Mr. Beriah Dayton who died Sept. 

27th, 1791. Aged 84 years. 
DENISON. Phebe Relict of Samuel Denison, died Jan. 26. 1842. 

Ae. 68. 
Jane M. Wife of William S. Denison Born Dec. 11, 1814. 

Died Apl. 22, 1844. 

William S. Denison Born Feb. 18, 1808. Died May 22, 1862. 

Susan M.Wife of William S. Denison Born Oct. 27, 1821. Died 

Aug. 31, 1899. 
DICKINSON. Althina Dickinson Dec. 5, 1858— Jan. 22, 1865. 
DOUGLAS. Sacred to the Memory of Phoebe H. Douglas wife 

of Arnold Douglas of the City of New York born Sept. 17, 1798, 

and departed this life Aug. 21, 1830. 

Oh! Union purest most sublime 
The grave itself but for a time 
Thy holy bond shall sever 
His hand who rent shall bind again 

With firmer links the broken chain 

To be complete for ever. 

DOWNS. Children of Nicholas A. & Marv M. Downs. 

Everett. Died May 7, 1874. Ae. 15 yrs. & 5 mo. 
EDWARDS. Thomas Edwards. 1816-1882. 

Mary A. his wife 1823-1897. 

Sylvanus, their son 1852-1861. 
Shaft N. Side. Jesse Edwards, died Oct. 8th, 1864. Ae. 33 

yrs. 



OLD CEMETERY 357 

Charles P. Edwards, died Oct. 1st, 1858. Ae. 21 yrs. 
Willie L. Edwards, died Sept. 18th, 1849. Ae. 6 yrs. 
Catherine widow of Henry Edwards died May 19, 1870. Ae. 78 

ys. 
W. Side. Elizabeth H. wife of Henry Edwards, died Sept. 30th, 
1860. Ae. 56 vrs. 

5". Side. Henry Edwards died April 29, 1869. Ae. 68 yrs. 
Mr. Frederick R. Edwards died July 30, 1846. Ae. 77. 



ELDRIDGE. Andrew Eldridge died Sept. 16, 1902. Ae. 82 ys. 

& 4 mo. At rest. 

Mary E. Fithean his wife died Dec. 30, 1911. Ae. 77 ys. 11 mo. 

& 30 ds. 
ELi^lSTON. In memory of Joseph Elliston of the 81 Reg. N. Y. 

S. M. who fell at the Battle of Cold Harbor June 2, 1864, in defence 

of the Union and Constitution of his Country, Ae. 20 yrs. 6 mos. 

26 ds. 

Sarah Jane Elliston departed this life Dec. 2, 1859. Ae. 2 yrs. 

1 month. 
Joseph Elliston died Sept. 18, 1872. Ae. 64 yrs. 

Eliza widow of Joseph Elliston died Nov. 5, 1888. Ae. 75 ys. & 

4 mo. 
ESTERBROOK. I. H. S.— Richard Esterbrook born Dec. 20, 1836, 

died Aug. 6, 1892. 
FOSTER. Cornelia wife of David Foster died Aug. 25, 1864 Ae. 

44 ys. 1 mo. & 17 ds. 

Her dust shall rest beneath the sod 
Her spirit has returned to God. 

FRANCIS. Roger A. Francis died July 13, 1885. Ae. 59 ys. 

Be thou faithful unto death and I will give thee a crown of 
life. Rev. 8. 10. 

Shaft IV. Side. Rev. Amzi Francis A. M. 

S. Side. Erected to the memory of a beloved Pastor by his Con- 
gregation. 

The righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance. 

E. Side. Born at West Hartford Ct. July 31, 1793. Graduated at 
Middlebury 1819. ordained & installed fourth Pastor of the Pres- 
byterian Church at Bridge Hampton April 17, 1823. died Oct. 18, 
1845, sustaining his pastoral relation until his death. 
N. Side. Eminently pious. Laborious in duty. Endeared to his 
family. Beloved by his people. Respected by all. His death 
was peaceful, Happy, triumphant. 

To die is gain. 

-Blessed is he that keeps all the ssyings of the prophecy of 



this book. Blessed are they that do his commandments that 
they may have right to the tree of life & may enter in through 
the gates into the city. 

Erected in memory of Mrs. Eliza Talcott consort of Rev. Amzi 
Francis, and daughter of Mr. Samuel & Mrs. Abigail P. Talcott, 
of Hartford, Conn, who died Aug. 17, 1829. Aged 34 years. 
She was a doer of good & a lover of good things. God laid her 
here with the hope of immortality. Let the earth rejoice for the 
Lord God omnipotent reigneth. 



358 OLD CEMETERY 

-Mary S. H. widow of Rev. Amzi Francis May 27, 1808. May 



24, 1897. 

Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God. Matt. 
5.8. 

-Ann Eliza F., died Sept. 24, 1836. Aged 2 years. 



Mary Amelia, died Oct. 21, 1836. Aged 5 weeks. 
Daughters of Rev. Ammi & Mary S. H. Francis. 

They were lovely and pleasant in their lives, and in their death 
*hev were not divided. 

-Samuel Tolcott Son of Amzi & Mary S. H. Francis born 



Sept. 3, 1839, died March 6, 1841. 
Isabella G. Francis, died June 1, 1915. Ae. 83 ys. 



When Christ w^ho is our life shall appear 

Then shall ye also appear with him in glory. Colossians 3. 4. 

GARDINER. I.H.S. ' John Lyon Gardiner, M.D., son of David 
Gardiner. Born May 6, 1823. Died May 29, 1908. 
The beloved Physician. 

I.H.S. Marv E. Jackson, wife of John L. Gardiner M.D. 

Born March 19, "1848. Died. 

-David, son of Rev. C. H. & A. E. L. Gardiner, died Oct. 10, 



1869. Aged 7 mos. 

-Rev. Charles H. Gardiner son of David Gardiner. Born 



June 10, 1826. Died June 13, 1912. 

-Anna E Lennon, wife of Rev. Charles H. Gardiner. Born 



Oct. 30, 1833. Died Dec. 15, 1910. 
Shaft N. Side. Doctor David Gardiner son of David Gardi- 
ner of Flushing, N. Y. and grandson of David, sixth Proprietor 
of Gardiner's Island. Born Jan. 1, 1799. Died Feb. 25, 1880. 
S. Side. Mariette, widow of Doctor David Gardiner and daughter of 
Hon. Abel Huntington, M.D.. of East Hampton, N. Y. Born 
Oct. 9, 1800. _ Died Feb. 1, 1882. 

-Mary Elizabeth wife of John L. Gardiner, M.D., and daugnter 



of Samuel & Mary A. Osborne, of Easthampton. Born Oct. 8, 
1825. Died May 11, 1865. Lord Tesus receive mv spirit. 

-William Gardiner died March 1, 1880. Ae. '72 ys. 9 mo. & 



22 ds. 

In my father's house are many mansions. John 14. 2. 
We only know that thou hast gone 
And that the same relentless tide 
Which bore thee froin us still glides on 
And we who mourn thee with it glide. 

-Sarah Corwith wife of William Gardiner and daughter of 



Tohn & Phebe Rogers died March 25, 1876. Ae. 65 ys. 8 mo. & 

2 ds. 

Her life was spent in untiring and cheerful Christian usefulness 

and unselfish benevolence. Her death peaceful and happy in full 

faith in and dependence upon her Redeemer. 
GELSTON. Abraham son of David and Phebe Gelston died May 

16 A. D., 1768. Aged 3 mo. & 15 days. 
In memory of Phebe the wife of David Cciston who died 

Feb. 12th A.D., 1768. Aged 21 Years 3 mo. & 8 Days. 



OLD CEMETERY 359 

In memory of Deacon Maltby Gelbton who Died Sepbr. 22nd, 

1783. Aged 60 years 6 mos. & 2 Days. 

Gelston's no more his soul has winged its way 
From sin and darkness to Celestial Day 
Weep for thyself for you like him must die. 

Thomas Gelston died Jan. 14, 1835. Ae. 83. 

Our fondest hopes, our most endearing ties are mortal, but 
affection never dies. 

Mary wife of Thomas Gelston. Died Aug. 31, 1832. Ae. 78. 

Who knows the wounds a dying friend imparts 
When the last pangs divides two social hearts. 

-In Memory of Mary Daughter of Mr. John & Mrs. Phebe 



Gelston who died Octr. 16th, 1790. 

-Sacred to the memory of John Gelston who departed this 



life August 31st, 1834. Aged 84 years and 1 month. 

Leaving a testimony of his faith built upon the foundation of the 

Apostles and Prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner 

stone. 

-Foster, son of Mr. John & Mrs. Phebe Gelston, died Deer. 



25th, 1783. Aged 4 Years & 3 Months. 

This turn is mine — The next may be thine. 
-In memory of Phebe the wife of Mr. John Gelston who died 



Octr. the 29th, 1786, in the 39th year of her age. 
Behold and see as you pass by. 
As you are now, so once was 1. 
As I am now, so you must be. 
Prepare for death and follow me. 
-In memory of John Gelston who died Oct. 24, 1813. Ae. 



32 j'^ears. 

-Laura C, wife of Richard Geltson (sic), born Jan. 15, 1801, 



died Oct. 21, 1827. Aged 26. 

-Richard Gelston Born June 10, 1799. died Aug. 21, 1855 Ae. 



56. 

GRAY. John son of Rev. Thomas M. & Mary Gray born March 
15, 1866. died April 15, 1866. 

Solomon Gray died Feb. 26, 1829. Ae. 35. 

In life's meridian summoned to the tomb 
Nor could fond hopes or warm affections save 
Stop reader, are you prepared to meet your doom 
Friends cannot save you from the coming grave. 

Edward S. son of Edward S. & Mary Ann Gray. Died Sept. 

15, 1848. Aged 1 yr. & 9 mos. 

-Mary A, wife of Edward S. Gray died March 29, 1896. Ae. 



76 yrs. 

-Edward S. Gray died May 29, 1853. Ae. 33. 



GROSHON. My husband Augustus W. Groshon born in Wash- 
ington, D. C. Dec. 5, 1843, died in Bridgehampton June 19, 1864. 
Thou hast all seasons for thine own, oh Death. 
HAINES. Our mother Harriet N. wife of James L. Haines died 
April 22, 1877. Ae. 62 ys. 4 mo. & 15 ds. 

Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord. 



360 OLD CEMETERY 

-The golden bowl is broken, George W. Haines died March 



31st, 1861. Ae. 25. 

God's finger touched him and he slept. There remaineth a rest 

for the people of God. Our life is but a vapour. 

William E. Haines was instantly killed by faUing from aloft on 

board of Whaling Bark Niixirod on the 18th of Sept., 1860. Ae. 

19. 

-Asleep in Jesus, blesseu sleep, Helen M. wife of Samuel 



A Haines died March 14th, 1863. Ae. 24 yrs. 9 mos. 

Shed not for her the bitter tear 
Give not the heart to vain regret 
Tis but the Casket that lies here 
The Gem that filled it sparkles yet. 

? Harry 

? Jamie. Our Darling Boy. 

James Clayton son of James L. & Harriet N. Haines died 

July 20th, 1863. Ae. 9 yrs. 7 mos. 

Sad was the hour that removed the away. 
Deep was the grief that rung the parents hearts 
But he who gave forbade the longer stay 
Too pure too bright too beautiful for earth. 

Our father. James L. Haines died March 22, 1897. Ae. 84 

ys. & 9 mo. 

God is my Salvation, I will trust and not be afraid. 
HAINS. Jane Daughter of Daniel & Eunice Hains who died 

Jany. 12th, 1774. Aged 4 years & 8 days. 
In memory of Eunice Wife of Daniel Hains who died Jany. 

the 7th A.D., '1774, in the 32nd Year of her Age. 
HALLOCK. In loving remembrance of Nicoll T. Hallock Tuly 26, 

1849.— May 15, 1890. 
HALSEY. In Memory of Jason Halsey who died March 11, 1835. 

Ae. 67. 
In memory of Daniel Halsey who died Jan. 14, 1827. Ae 

70. 

-In Memory of Job son of Samuel & Sebel Halsey who -vas 



drowned Sept. 13, 1822. Ae. 21 yrs. 5 mo. & 13 ds. 
Go home my friends dry up your tears, 
I must lie here till Christ appears. 
Prepare for death for you must die 
And be entomb'd as well as I. 
-Sacred to memory of Samuel Halsey who died Sept. 22, 1839. 



Ae. 67. 

For I know that thou wilt me to death, and to the house 

appointed for all living. 

Sebel widow of Samuel Halsey, died April 29, 1854. Ae. 77. 

Edward P. Halsey died October 11, 1860. Ae. 22 yrs. 

God took him. 
-Amzi F. son of Richard & Frances M. Halsey died Feb, 8, 



1857. Ae. 1 yr. 4 mos. 

-Daniel Halsey Died Feb. 4, 1907. Ae. 89 ys. 10 mo. 11 ds. 



Descended from the Founders of the Republic he left a name un- 
tarnished as theirs. 



OLD CEMETERY 361 

-Amanda M. wife of Daniel S. Halsey Died July 25, 1889. Ae. 



71 ys. & 1 mo. 

I know that my Redeemer liveth. 
-Isabella S. Haynes wife of C. Edwin Halsey. Born Jan. 30, 



1858. Died Sept. 8, 1906. 

She hath done what she could. 

Gabriel Halsey Died July 5, 1854. Ae. 74 yrs. & 7 mo, 

-In memory of Sally wife of Gabriel Halsey who died June 



14, 1815 in the 27 year of her age. 

-Elizabeth widow of Gabriel Halsey died April 9, 187o Ae. 



86 ys. & 2 mo. 

-Samuel A. son of Gabriel & Elizabeth T. Halsey. Died Dec. 



10, 1857. Ae. 2,2. 

-Mable I. Daughr. of H. S. & L S. Halsey died Jan. 3, 1883. 



Ae. 8 mos. 
Philetus H. Halsey died April 15, 1882. Ae. 70 ys. 

We mourn our loss. 



Margaret M. wife of Philetus H. Halsey died Jan. 3, 1905. 

Ae. 81 yrs. 
Mary wife of Ledgard Halsey died Oct. 29, 1841, in the 36th 

year of her age. 
Ledgard Halsey died July 18, 1857, in the 58th year of his 



age. 

-Nancy Halsey 1794—1887. 



-Maria Halsey 1793—1868. 

-Nicholas Halsey 1795—1851. 

-Roxanna Halsey Born Aug. 11, 1825 died Feb. 28, 1892. 

Asleep in Jesus. 
-Charles Carpenter Halsey Born Nov. 21, 1832 died April 12, 



1891. 

Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord. 
-Oliver Halsey Born Feb. 11, 1790. died Jan. 6, 1885. 



Sophia his wife born Feb. 24, 1801, died March 8. 1886. 
Forever with the Lord. 
-Erected to the memory of Mary wife of Benjamin H. Halsey 



who died Feb. 25, 1836. Aged 43 years. By an affectionate dispo- 
sition and faithfulness in the discharge of relative duties, she en- 
deared herself to her family and friends, and died deeply Lament- 
ed in the enjoyment of hope in Christ. 

-In memory of Benjamin H. Halsey who died Nov. 21, 1843. 



Ae. 51. 

His life was gentle and serene his mind 
His morals pure, in every action just. 
A husband dear, and as a parent kind. 
As such he lies lamented in the dust. 

Frankie, Born Sept. 1st, 1880. Died Sept. 3d, 1881. 



Safe in the arms of Jesus 
Safe in his gentle breast 
There by his love o'ershaded 
Sweetly our babe doth rest. 



362 OLD CEMETERY 

Died Nov. 20, 1843. Sarah wife of Jacob Halsey. Ae. 71. 

Soft was the moment and serene 
That all her sufferings closed 
No agony nor struecle seen 
No feature discomposed. 

In memory of Elizabeth wife of Jeremiah Halsev who died 

Oct. 16, 1831. Ae. 89.* 

In hope of eternal life. 

In Memory of Mr. Jeremiah Halsey who died Sept. 1782 in 

the 45th year of his age.* 

-Prudence wife of Simeon Halsey died Sept. 6, 1829. Ae. 63 



ys. 8 mo.* 
In memory of Simeon Halsey who died Sept. 3, 1833. Ae. 68.* 

This body sleeps in dust 

Immortal joys await the host 

In perfect beauty may it rise 

When Gabriel's trumpet shakes the skies. 

-A daughter of Simeon & Prudence Halsey died April 13, 1811. 



Ae. 2 days. 

-In Memory of Polly Ma. .. .daughter of Simeon & Mary 



Halsey who died April 21, 1812. Aged 18 yrs. 1 mo.* 

-Shaft. N. Side. Children of Capt. Benjamin H. & Mary S. 



Halsey. 

Mary S. died Dec. 16, 1864. Ae. 8 yrs. & 3 mo. 

Benjamin H. died Dec. 12, 1874. Ae. 19 ys. 10 mo. & 26 ds. 

IV. Side. Capt. Benjamin Halsey born Oct. 15, 1820, died May 
21, 1896. 

Mary S. Rogers wife of Capt. B. H. Halsey, born Aug. 14, 1821. 
died April 6, 1899. 

-In memory of Mary wife of Simeon Halsey who died May 



ye 22nd, 1804, aged 35 years 10 mo. & 14 days.* 

-Our Mother. Phebe Haines widow of Robert Halsev born 



Sept. 19, 1815. died Aug. 12, 1912. At rest. 

-Our father. Robert Halsey Born Feb. 17, 1812 died Jan. 4, 



1874. At rest. 

Jerusha wife of Daniel Halsey died Aug. 27, 1843. Ac. 92. 

-Sarah Halsey 1824—1912. 



Ada L. Halsey. 1867—1889. 

-Infant died Oct. 23, 1860. Ae. 23 ds. 



Eliza M. died May 31, 1864. Ae. 6 yrs. 3 mos. 
Children of Henry A. & Sarah Halsey. 

Henry A. Halsey died Aug. 16, 1870. Ae. 53 yrs. 7 mo. 

Asleep in Jesus. 
-Shaft N. Side. Adeline S. wife of Noah H. Halsey born Apr. 



23, 1828, died Aug. 22, 1894. 

IV. Side. Caroline A. Wife of Noah H. Halsey born June 9, 

1821, died April 5, 1867. 

Noah H. Halsey born Feb. 22, 1820, died Jan. 23. 1889. 

S. Side. Children of N. H. & C. A. Halsey. 

Infant daughr. died Sept. 16, 1843. 

Infant daughr. died Dec. 15, 1846. 

Nathan H. died July 18, 1855. Ae. 5 yrs. 



OLD CEMETERY 363 

Ella M. died May 6, 1865. Ae. 11 yrs. 
Kittie died Sept. 25, 1867. Ae. 6 mo. 

-In memory of Jeremiah Halsey who died Oct. 9, 1806, in the 



36 year of his age. 

-In Memory of Mr. Elias Halsey who departed this life Feby. 



24th, 1792, in the 62d year of his age. 

-Jerusha Halsey born Aug. 31, 1770, died Dec. 1, 1851. Ae. 



81. 
Died April 10, 1847, Jacob Halsey. Ae. 77. 



There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. 
—Died Sept. 14, 1848. Cornelius Halsey. Ae. 21. 
—Alva Halsey died Feb. 15, 1852. Ae. 56. 



I have fought a good fight. I have finished my course — I have 

kept the faith. 

II Timothy IV. 7. 

Juliet G. Halsey May 7, 1850. Dec. 27, 1914. 

Mary wife of Alva Halsey died Oct. 15, 1836. Aged 30. 



Sleep on dear partner sleep. Till nature's change shall come, and 
Gabriel's trump shall sound. 

-Roxanna Daughter of Capt. Wm. & Prudence Halsey died 



Sept. 11, 1825. Ae. 24. 

Frances M. wife of Richard Halsey Born Sept. 29, ^810. 

Died Jan. 12, 1896. 

Richard Halsey Died Aug. 16, 1882. Ae. 78 yrs. 

Asleep in Jesus. 

Leander P. Halsey 1836—1898. 

Ellen M. Comstock Wife of Leander P. Halsev. Born Dec. 

16, 1839. Died Feb. 1, 1873. Gone Home. 

-Alice Wife of Leander P. Halsey Died June 16th, 1870. Ae. 



29 yrs. 9 mo. 

So he giveth His beloved sleep. 
Stephen Halsey, Esq., died Jan. 25, 1837. Aged 80 years. 

Thus shall our mouldering bodies teach 
Vv'^hat now our senses learn 
For dust and ashes loudest preach 
Man's infinite concern. 

-Hamutal relict of Stephen Halsey Esq. died Sept. 14. 1848. 



Ae. 

-Our father. Hugh Halsey Born June 26th, 1794, died May 



29th, 1858. 

I will that they also whom thou hast given me, be with me where 

I am. 

-Our Mother. Phebe M. widow of Hugh Halsey. Born A)iril 



15th, 1795. Died April 9th, 1860. 

He giveth his beloved sleep. 
James Mitchell Halsey Born May 22, 1825, died March 22, 

1899. 
Our brother. Charles E. Halsey. M.D., Assistant Surgeon 

40th Regt. N. Y. Vol. Borri April 27, 1834, died July 30th, 1862. 

He sacrificed his life to his profession and his country I'he 

memory of the past is blessed. 



364 OLD CEMETERY 

-Our brother. E. Sidney Halsey Co. K 127th Regiment N. Y. 



Vol. Born March 13, 1838, died November 29th, 1862. 

Lovely and pleasant in their lives and in their death they were 
not divided. 

-Edward Herrick Son of Hugh Halsey Esq. & Phebe M. 



Halsey died Jan. 3, 1834. Ae. 5 ys. 6 mo. 14 ds. 

-Mary Howell, Daughter of Hugh Halsey Esq. & Phebe M. 



Halsey, died Dec. 26, 1833. Ae. 10 ys. 9 mo. 12 ds. 

Infant children of Hugh & Phebe Halsey. 

-Jamie infant son of James M. & Mary A. Halsey Born Oct. 



14, 1873. Died Nov. 16, 1873. 

Of such is the Kingdom of Heaven. 

HAND. In memory of Polly Maria daughr. of William M. & 
Elmira Hand who died Jan. 22, 1836. Ae. 19 ys. 11 mo. 23 ds. 

In the gay morn of life behold I'm called away 
From friends beloved and in the ground must lay 
Parents voice no more salute my ear 
But torn from all I now am rested here 
But oh dear friends grieve not for me 
Peaceful and calm my slumbers be 
I wait above to meet with thee. 

-William M. son of William M. & Elmira Hand died Nov. 9th, 



1836. Ae. 16. 

Beneath these clods in silent dust 
I sleep where all the living must 
The gayest youth, the fairest face 
Must shortly lie in this dark place. 

-Shaft N. Side. Capt. George L. Hand born Aug. 9, 1819, died 



Sept. 19, 1887. 

Harriet M. his wife born Jan. 3, 1837, died Jan. 26, 1897. 

S. Side. Mary Addie Hand born April 26, 1871, died March 1, 

1883 

E. Side. Thomas J. Hand born Oct. 17, 1860, died Dec. 22, 1911. 

1911. 

-Elizabeth H. wife of Watson Hand born Feb. 17, 1793, died 



Feb. 27, 1869. Ae. 76 ys. 

She sweetly sleeps in Jesus. 
-Came to the better land Fannie J. Daugh. of Orlando & Eliza- 



beth H. Hand, died Nov. 7, 1859. Ae. 4 ys. 10 mo. 
I want to be an angel and with the angels stand. 
HARRIS. Susanna M. Widow of Daniel Harris died March 20, 

1861. Ae. 79.* 
HAVENS. Shaft 1. Side. Phebe H. Havens. 1829-1912. 

2 Side. James S. Havens. 1834-1912. 
Mary M. Hand his wife 1832-1911. 

3 Side. William C. Hand 1803-1885. 
Ann N. wife of Wm. C. Hand 1786-1869. 

We know that our Redeemer liveth. 

4 Side. Jeremiah T. Havens 1806—1862. 

Eliza G. Wife of Jeremiah T. Havens. 1807—1889. 



OLD CEMETERY 365 

HEDGES. My husband. John H. Hedges Died Dec. 26. 1889. 
Ae. 30 ys. & 9 mo. 

Trusting in Jesus. 
-Nancy wife of Tillinghast Hedges died Feb. 14, 1901. Ae. 



88 ys.^ 

Infant son of Edwin & Emily Hedges died 1 July 1879. 

Edwin Hedges Born February 12th, 1847, died May 8th, 1881. 

In the joy that is born of the light. 
Hervey Hedges died April 1st, 1869. Ae. 71 yrs. 7 mo. 

An honest man is the noblest work of God. 
-Erected in Memory of Mary wife of Hervey Hedges who 



died Aug. 27, 1842. Aged 25 years. 
She was suddenly cut down without warning amidst earthly en- 
joyments greaily Lamented leaving her home desolate but not 
comfortless. She died trusting in divine mercy through the 
merits of Jesus Christ. 

-Erected to the memory of Laura T. wife of Hervey Hedges 



who died Feb. 28, 1891. Aged 81 ys. 7 mo. & 13 ds. 

-David A. Hedges M.D., born Dec. 25, 1835, died Jan. 1, ^887. 



-Monument, N. Side. David Hedges. 1802-1870. 



Clarissa White his wife 1806—1885. 

5. Side. .Cassander W. Hedges. 1834-1901. 

Flora R. Chapman his wife 1840 — 

E. Side. Capt._ David Hedges 1770-1840. 

Jemima Topping his wife 1776 — 1839. 

Jeremiah Osborn Hedges. 1819—1909. 

Marcus Osborn Hedges. 1854 — 1911. 

Eliza Brewster Hedges. 1824 — 1895. 

-John Brewster Hedges 1850—1908. 



Shaft, W. Side. In memorv of Henry P. Hedges who was 

born 13th October 1817. died 26th September 1911. 
In memory of Glorianna wife of Henry P. Hedges who was born 
5th June 1820. Died 1st February 1891. 

.iV. Side. In memory of Edwin Hedges who was born 12th Feb- 
ruary 1847. died 8th May 1881. 

-Maria P. Hedges Born July 18th, 1842. Died Nov. 1st, 



1880. 

For he giveth his beloved sleep — Psalms 127th 2nd. 
-Nancy K. Topping wife of Edwin Hedges Born Seot. 13, 



1813. Died Aug. 31, 1899. 

-In memory of Edwin Hedges who died June 26, 1849. Ae. 



37. 

There is but a step between me and death. I Samuel XX. 3. 
HILDRETH. Phebe A. Daughr. of Matthew & Hannah Hildreth 

died July 22, 1842. Ae. 6 mos. 
Ellen L. Daughter of Matthew & Hannah Hildreth, died 

March 10, 1845. Aged 17. 

-J. Howard son of Matthew & Hannah Hildreth died July 



28th, 1868. Ae. 25 yrs. 

-Hannah Topping wife of Matthew Hildreth born Jan. 17, 



1801, died Oct. 17, 1882. At rest. 
—Matthew Hildreth born June 25, 1798, died July 21, 1882. Ax 



rest. 



366 OLD CEMETERY 

Shaft W. Side. Children of Henry L. & Jerusha H. Hildreth. 

S. Side. William H. died Oct. 20, 1840. Ae. 1 mo. 21 ds. 
Levi L. died Sept. 23, 1843. Ae. 8 mo. 
iV. Side. Evelyn L. died April 22, 1847. Ae. 3 yrs. 6 mo. 
Levi H. died Jan. 26, 1852. Ae. 4 yrs. 3 mo. 

-In memory of Nancy P. Hildreth vv^ife of Henry L. Hiidrcth 



who died April 23, 1839. Aged 29. 

Farewell dear friends my memory keep 
While in death's Arms my body sleep — 
Short was my stay with vou below 
Sooner or later all must eo. 

Jerusha H. widow of Henry L. Hildreth Born Dec. 11th, 

1808. Died July 28th, 1869. 

And there shall be no night there for the Lord God giveth light. 
-Henry L. Hildreth Born Nov. 10th, 1807. Died March 11th, 



1863. 

Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved. 
-Mary M. widow of Levi H. Hildreth died Aug. 30, 1854. 



Ae. 80. 

Be ye also ready for in such an hour as ye think not the son of 

man cometh. 

-Levi H. Hildreth born Aug. 29, 1777, died July 29. 1846. 



Aged 69. 

Remember me, oh pass not thus my grave 
Without one thought whose relics here recline 
The only pang my bosom dare not. brave 
Would be to find forgetfulness in thine. 

-Phoebe H. Shattuck daughter of Henry L. Hildreth pnd 



Nancy P. Conklin Nov. 6, 1835. Nov. 15, 1909. 

-In memory of Mrs. Phebe Hildreth Relict of James Hildreth who 



died Oct. 15, 1822. Ae. 88 ys. & 3 mo. 
HOWELL. Here Lyeth The Bodys of Eliz. & James dan. & son 

of Chas. & Debh. Howell who died Feb. 1753. E. H. in 14th & 

j. H. in 2nd Years of Age. 
This Tablet is erected to the memory of Moses Howell who 

died Oct. 29, 1830. 

Spring, Summer, Autumn, with me past 
But winter yet could come 
And when full 80 years were gone 
God called me to my Home. 

-In Memory of Susannah ye Wife of Lieut. Arthur Howell who 



died Oct. 2nd, 1760. in ye 44th Year of her age. 

Beneath this shade lies the remains of Clarissa relict oi Ar- 
thur Howell and Daughter of Abraham Topping who died Sept. 
2, 1832. Aged 36. 

Daughr. of E. & B. H. Sept. 4, 1836. Ae. 10 ds. 

Son of E. & B. H. May 11. 1839. Ae. 5 ds. 

-Aurelia B. daugh. of Edward & Bathsheba Howell d'cd July 



22, 1841. Ae. 2 yrs. 

-Edward H. Howell died June 9, 1870. Ae. 64 ys. 6 mo. & 



25 ds. 



OLD CEMETERY 367 

Bathshebay T. Howell March 13, 1807. March 15, 189'. 

Sacred to the memory of Walter Howell who departed this 

life Jany. 2, 1820. Aged 78 years, 5 months & 9 days. 

Come children dear and learn to know 
That God on high will guide you through 
If you to him your day submit 
The Heavens on high will be your seat. 

Shaft W. Side. Elisha Howell died May 1, 1891. Ae. 74 yrs. & 

7 mo. 

Ann M. widow of Elisha Howell died Sept. 19, 1898. Ae. 79 

yrs. & 11 mos. 

N. Side. Children of E. & A. M. Howell. 

Mary Gelston born Nov. 17, 1846, died Dec. 30, 1863. 

Laura Cook born April 13, 1849, died Tan. 5, 1864. 

Edward Gray born July 13, 1853, died Jan. 16, 1864. 

Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord. 

Benjamin F. Howell. Born June 11, 1801. Died Oct. 5, 1855. 

Betsey his wife born July 5, 1801, died June 10, 1890. 

Lucretia _C. Howell Born April 7, 1828, died Oct. 28. 1895. 

-Ann Maria daughter of George & Phebe Howell died Oct. 



17, 1813. Ae. 10 mos. & 10 days. 

William H. Howell died Nov. 20, 1887. Ae. 38 ys. & 3 no. 

I have a hope of heaven. 
-Mary E. wife of William H. Howell died Sept. 12, 18.72. Ae. 



24 ys. & 8 mo. & 22 ds. 

Meet me in heaven. 

In Memory of Ruth Howell who died Oct. 1, 1829. Ae. 42. 

-In Memory of Abigail wife of Capt. Caleb Howell who died 



Feb. 14, 1831. Ae. 71. 

-In memory of Capt. Caleb Howell who died Jan. 23, !841. 



Aged 80 years. 

-In Memory of Eunice ye wife of Lemuel Howell who died 



June ye 13th, 1759 in ye 32nd Year of her Age. 

-In Memory of Jesse Howell who died Feb. ye 2nd, 176% in 



ye 53 Year of his Age. 
In Memory of Lemuel Howell who died Oct. 3, 1819. Ae. 

29. 
HUNTTING. Shaft, W. Side. Capt. James R. Huntting Born in 

Southampton Jan. 21, 1825, died Feb. 13, 1882. 

Capt. Henry E. Huntting Born in Southampton April 17. .'828, 

died Feb. 17, 1903. 

N. Side. Marth White wife of James R. Huntting May 15, 1828 



S. Side. Caroline H. Foster wife of H. E. Huntting born in 

Bridgehampton Nov. 23, 1830, died Oct. 18, 1912. 

Minnie F. daughter of Henry E. & Caroline H. Hunting died 

March 28, 1886. Ae. 24 ys. 
HULBERT. In memory of Mrs. Elizabeth wife of Lt. John Hul- 

bert who died Aug. 16th, 1783, in the 83rd Year of her Age. 
JENNINGS. Shaft W. Side. Captain Andrew J. Jennings died 

May 23, 1885. Ae. 61 ys. & 5 mo. 



368 OLD CEMETERY 

E. Side. Annie E. wife of Capt. Andrew J. Jennings died Oct. 

31, 1881. Ae. 46 ys. & 5 mo. 

A^. Side. Lidie C. Flint died Aug. 14, 1881. Ae. 19 ys. & 8 mo. 

Essie J. Flint died Sept. 26, 1881. Ae. 3 ys. & 1 mo. 
TONES. Erected in memory of Sanford Jones son of Mr. Will- 
iam & Mrs. Eliza Jones who was born July 12, 1826, and died 

March 16, 1829. 
Erected in memory of Mrs. Eliza Sanford consort of Mr. 

William Jones who was born Aug. 2, 1801, died Jan. 2, 1830. 
-In memory of Clarissa wife of William L. Jones Born T^eb. 



25, 1796. Died March 10, 1845. Ae. 49. 

-William L. Jones died Oct. 20, 1874. Ae. 79 ys. 8 mos. 



A man that was perfect and upright and one that feared God and 
eschewed evil. Job L. 1. 
LESTER. George L. Lester died July 12, 1865. Ae. 34 yrs. 
In the midst of life we are in death. 

George O. son of George L. & Hetty M. Lester died Aug. 

15, 1859. Ae. 8 mo. 

-Fanny Sutton wife of Richard Lester born March 27, 1809, 



died Feb. 8, 1878. 

For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were 

dissolved we have a building of (rest buried). 

Richard Lester Born April 13, 1797, died March 27, 1879. 

The memory of the just is blessed. 
-Sarah Frances wife of Richard Lester born Feb. 18, 1794, 



died Sept. 11, 1843. 

Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord. 
LEVERICH. T. B. Leverich— May 9, 1851. Feb. 21, 1905. 
LOPER. In Memory of Susannah Daughter of Isaac & Susannah 

Loper who died Oct. 21st, 1789 aged 7 years & 14 days. 
In memory of Patience Loper who died Jan. 31, 1823, in the 

83 years of her age. 
In memory of Mary Loper who died Oct. 23, 1814, in the 

76 year of her age. 

-In memory of Susannah wife of Isaac Loper who died 



August 13, 1810 aged 66 years 4 mo. 

-Harriet E. daughter of Edwin & Fannie Loper died March 



23, 1871. Ae. 26 yrs.'* 

-Fanny wife of Edwin A. Loper died April 9, 1895. .\e. 86 



ys. 



** 



-Mary Abigail daughter of Edwin & Fanny Loper Died Aug. 
19 A.D., 1846. Aged 8 years 3 mos. & 24 days.** 

Farewell father, farewell mother 
As you are now, so once was I. 
As i am now you soon will be. 
Prepare for death and follow me. 

Died Oct. 18, 1849. Edwin A. Loper. Ae. 37 yrs. 8 mo.** 

Sleep my companion and take thy rest 
God took you from me, he thought it best. 

-Emely Ann daughr. of Jared & Abigail Loper died March 4, 



1825. Ae. 6 yrs. & 8 mo.** 



OLD CEMETERY 369 

Abigail widow of Jared Loper died Nov. 3, 1862. Ae. 74 ys.** 

Died Nov. 8, 1849. Jared Loper. Ae. 75.** 

Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord. 
In memory of Isaac Loper who died Nov. 4, 1812, in the 

69 year of his age.** 
LUDLOW. Momimrnt, W. Side. Capt. Isaac Ludlow born Feb- 
ruary 18, 1807, died December 7, 1871. 

Phebe H. Pierson his wife born June 1, 1808, died August 23, 

1894. 

.v. Side. Martha T. Ludlow born April 10, 1837, died April 20, 

1837. 

Isaac S. Ludlow born March 30, 1839, died July 30, 1841. 

Mary S. Ludlow born Nov. 10, 1845, died Oct. 10, 1846. 

E. Side. William Hardacre born April 28, 1824, died March 28, 

1891. 
Abigail Pierson wife of Sylvanus T. Ludlow died Ji'.nc 11, 

1875. Ae. 62 ys. & 10 mo. Mother. 

-Sylvanus T. Ludlow died Nov. 3, 1891. Ae. 86 ys. 11 mo. & 



17 ds. Father. 

-In loving remembrance of Sarah E. Penny wife of James 



M. Ludlow Feb. 14, 1836. Feb. 3, 1914. 

-Harriet M. Brewster wife of Charles T. Ludlow died Feb. 



26, 1892. Ae. 29 ys. 11 mo. & 8 ds. 

-Kenneth Bloor infant son of Clara Bloor & Chas. T. Liidlow 



died July 25, 1897. Ae. 5 days. 

-In loving remembrance of Sarah H. Hildreth, wife of Her- 



vey Ludlow, Jan. 31, 1839. Dec. 2, 1915._ 

-Here rests in God the mortal remains of David T. Ludlow 



who was born Sept. 17th, 1800 and died Aug. 30th, 1854. 
Lie that believeth in me though he were dead yet shall he live. 
Andrew P. son of Sylvanus T. & Abigail Ludlow died Aug. 



25, 1836, aged 4 years & 6 months 

Charles H. Ludlow born Dec. 9, 1820, died Sept. 27. 1848. 

Martha T. wife of Isaac Ludlow died Oct. 2, 1842. Ae. 64. 

Sleep on dear friend in this thy tomb 
God said 'twas best to call thee home. 

-Jerusha H. wife of Jeremiah Ludlow born Oct. 5, 1817, f'.ied 



Sept. 4, 1847. 

Bright seraphs wave their starry wings 
And softly touch the trembling strings, 
To welcome thine immortal Lyre, 
In rapture to th' angelic Choir. 

-Miss Elizabeth Ludlow 1810—1889. 



McCALL. In memory of James McCall who died May 12. ::835. 
Ae. 21. 

Death is the common lot of all & to the 
Christian it is the door to endless life. 
MANNING. Helen wife of Henry C. Manning and daughtei of 
Nathan & Caroline M. Rogers Died Jan. 25, 1883. Aged 49 yrs. 
Lead Kindly Light, amid the encircling gloom, 
Lead thou me on. 



370 OLD CEMETERY 

MAPLES. Frances L. Gardiner widow of Rev. Carlton P. M.tples 
Born May 30, 1821, died March 21, 1890. 

Entered into the rest of Paradise Jan. 19, 1879. The Rev. 

Carlton Peters Maples in the 57th Year of his age and the 27th 
of his ministry — A graduate of Geneva College and of the Gen- 
eral Theological Seminary, N. Y. First Rector of the Episcopal 
Church at St. James, L. I., later of Grace, Pomeroy, Ohio. 
Now if we be dead with Christ we believe that we shall also live 
with him. Romans VI. 8th. 

MERRYWEATHER. There is rest in Heaven. Joseph Merry- 
weather died at New Orleans April, 1840. Ae. 40. 
Also his wife Daraxa died Nov. 24, 1840. Ae. 39. 

MILLER. Arabella Halsey widow of Rev. David M. Miller horn 
Dec. 6, 1831. died Feb. 22, 1910. 

She hath done what she could. 

-Shaft, W. Side. Rev. David M. Miller. 



5. Side. Erected to the memory of a beloved Pastor by his Con- 
gregation. His record is on high. 

E. Side. Born at Elizabeth Town, N. J., June 12, 1827, grad- 
uated at the New York University 1850. and at the Theolo},,ical 
Seminary, Princeton, 1853. ordained & installed Sixth Pastor of 
the Presbyterian Church at Bridge Hampton April 27. 1854. 
Died June 29, 1855. 

N. Side. Early in life pious. Early in his ministry. He died 
Lamented & beloved. Yet in the hearts of his people He lives. 
Proficient in theology — Ardent in pietv. To preach Chrisi his 
theme. To save souls his desire. Faithful in life — Peaceful m 
death. Asleep in Jesus. 

-Geo. Lewis Miller born at Montauk Nov. 16, 1821 died 



March 30, 1887. 

Caroline A. wife of Geo. Lewis Miller, born at Amagansett, July 

25, 1826. Died Feb. 11, 1899. Mother. 
MITCHELL. Edward Mitchell Born Nov. 12, 1799. Died Aug. 3, 

1876. 

Mary A. Brainard his wife Born May 10, 1811. Died Jan. 22, 

1848. 

Mary B. their infant daughter died Jan. 27, 1848. Aged 12 days. 
In Memory of James Mitchell who died Sept. 23, 1815 in 

the 52 year of his age. 

Ye mortals frail come view this stone. 
It's placed in memory of one 
Who while he lived on earth 
Was honest generous and just. 
He helped the needy and distressed 
Now low he sleeps in death. 

-Mrs. Lucy Mitchell" wife of James Mitchell died May 16, 



1836. Aged 70. 

Life makes the soul dependent on the dust. 
Death gives her wings to mount above the spheres. 
Death bursts the involving cloud and all is day. 

-In Memory of Mr. John Mitchell who died Novr. ye 4th 



A. D., 1762. Aged 78 years. 



OLD CEMETERY 371 

In memory of Mary Daughter of John & Mehitable' Mitchell 

who died November the 22nd, (?) 1770. Aged (?) 

-In memory of Samuel & Nathaniel, Twins, Sons John & 



Mehitabel Mitchell. Samuel died Jan. 10, 1759. Aged 2 years, 
9 mos. 10 days. (Rest of stone buried). 

-In Memory of John & Phebe, Twins of John & Mehitabel 



Mitchell. John died July 14, 1749. Aged 6 days. (Rest of stone 
buried.) 

Mehetabel Cook Relict of John Mitchell died Nov. 3, 1810. 

Aged 84 years. 

-In memory of Mr. John Mitchell who died the 21st Day of 



June A. D. 1774. in the 56th Year of his Age. 
MOONEY. Shaft E. Side. Mary A. wife of Edward Mooney 

died Feb. 8, 1888. Ae. 54 ys. & 13 ds. Asleep in Jesus. 

.S". Side. Edward Mooney died April 21, 1902. Ae. 69 yrs. 
MOORE. In memory of Mr. Daniel Moore who departed 'his 

hfe Novr. 10th, 1791, in ye 83d Year of his Age. 
In Memory of Mrs. Anna wife to Mr. Daniel Moore -vho 

departed this life July 8th, 1787 in ye 79th year of her age. 
NEWTON. Infant son of Lewis L. & Amanda E. Newton died 

Nov. 12, 1848. Ae. 9 dys. 
In Memory of Samuel E. son of Nathaniel C. & Marvr New- 
ton died Sept. 22, 1848. Ae. 24 yrs. 5 mo. 

Dear friends who live to mourn and weep 

Behold the grave wherein I sleep 

Prepare for death for you must die 
And be entombed as well as I. 

Amanda E. wife of Lewis L. Newton died April 30, '^51. 

Ae. 29 ys. 4 mo. & 4 ds. 

NILES. In memory of John P. Niles who was Shipwrecked and 
drowned near Hempstead Beach on the 5 of March 1832. Ae. 
25 ys. 2 mo. & 7 ds. 

If an amiable disposition, strict moral integrity and activi*'/ of 
body and mind, could save from the shaft of death he had not 
died — but the stroke was given according to the Will of infinite 
Wisdom, which saith to you and me "Be ye also ready." 

In Memory of Frances M. Relict of John P. Niles who died 

Sept. 12, 1837. Ae. 29. 

I would not live always and blest is the tomb 
Since Jesus has died I will welcome its gloom — 
There sweet be my rest till he bid me arise 
To hail him in triumph descending the skies. 

NORRIS. In Memory of Matha Wife of Stephen H. Norris who 

died July 25, 1840 aged 67 years. 
In Memory of Stephen H. Norris who died March 15. 1S53. 

Ae. 80. 

-Charles H. Norris died July 31, 1856. Ae. 48 ys. 6 n:o. 



OVERTON. Jos. L. Overton Born April 1823. Died March 

1901. 
PALMER. Louise A. wife of Seth S. Palmer died Oct. 18, 1854. 

Aged 26. 

The loved one sleeps, But when the morning breaks, "She'll 

wake and sing." 



372 OLD CEMETERT 

PAYN. S. PAYN. [Sylvanus Payne.] 

PEIRSON. In Memory of Elizabeth wife of Col. David Peirson 

who died June 18th, 1792, in the 46th year of her Age. 
PHILLIPS. Katherine M. wife of Smith Phillips died Jan. 19, 

1880. Ae. 46 ys. & 1 mo. Gone to her rest. 
PIERSON. Fanny P. Pierson born Nov. 30, 1814, died Aug. 17, 

1889. 

Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord. 

-Mary T. Wife of Eliphalet Pierson, daughter of Paul & 



Rebecca Topping died Novr. 2, 1854. Ae. 50. 

Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God. 
-In memory of Capt. Samuel B. Pierson born Feb. 22 d, 1816. 



died Oct. 1st, 1864. His remains lie interred in the En;^lish 
Cemetery attached to the City of Pernambuco, South America. 

Rest the loved one in a foreign tomb 
Afar from kindred friends and home 
But when the dead in Christ shall rise 
We'll meet again beyond the skies. 

-In Memory of Mrs. Harriet wife of Theodore Pierson who 



died April 2, 1849. Aged 30. 

Harriet E. Daughter of Theodore & Harriet Pierson died .\ug. 

31st, 1849. Aged 6 months. 

William E. Pierson died Oct. 20, 1884. A'?, 46 ys. 

-Our father and mother. Capt. \\ iHiam Pierson lost at sea 



June 4th, 1846. Ae. 29 yrs._ 

Sophia widow of Capt. William Pierson died .April 17th, 1865. 

Ae. 52 yrs. 

-Phebe Foster wife of Theodore Pierson died Feb. 28. 1^03. 



Ae. 76 yrs. & 7 mo. 

-Theodore Pierson died Dec. 10, 1891. Ae. 70 ys. & 6 mo. 



-Gurden Pierson died Dec. 2, 1866. Ae. 83 ys. & 10 mo. 



Matsey widow of Gurden Pierson died Jan. 10, 1872. Ae. 85 ys. 

& 4 mo. 
POUNDING. J. Edmund son of Edward & Anna Pounding Died 

Nov. 1, 1893. Ae. 24 ys. At rest. 
Anna wife of Edward Pounding Died Feb. 15, 1879. .^ve. 33 

ys. He giveth his beloved sleep. 
REILLY. Phebe R. Corwith widow of Robert A. Reil!/ died 

March 23, 1906. Ae. 83 yrs. 

They rest from their labors for their works follow with them. 
ROBERTS. Sacred to the memory of Mary P. wife of Rev. Henry 

F. Roberts, pastor of the Methodist Episcopal Church of this 

place, and daughter of Mr. Daniel Crane of Jersey City, N. J. 

who departed this life Nov. 21 1841. Aged 34 years & 13 days. 

Here from this life's cares, beneath this sacred sod, 
Rests her remains, her soul's returned to God. 
Tn her did each endearirg virtue b'end 
Which could adorn the Mother, W fe (f friend. 
Then rest in peace, till from the distant sk'cs, 
The trump shall sound to bid these ashes rise. 

This monument was erected as a testimony of their aflFectionate 
regard for their afflicted Pastor, by the Members and Friends of 



OLD CEMETERY 373 

the Methodist Episcopal Chinch in Bridgehampton. 
ROGERS. In Memory of Harriet Augusta, daughter of E/ekiel 

H. & Mary Rogers, and adopted daughter of Rev. Amzi S: Mary 

S. H. Francis who died Feb. 14, 1840. Aged 16 years. 
Mary wife of James Rogers and daughter of Samuel H. & 

Hannah Rose Born Feb. 5th 1788. Died Dec. 14th. 18rvS. So 

he gave his beloved sleep. 

-Sacred to the memory of Sarah Matilda Daughter of N'. & 



Caroline M. Rogers who departed this life 14th aged 

4 years and 3 month. (Verse illegible.) 

-Nathan Rogers. Born August 1st, 1787. Died De:. ^th. 



1844. 

Caroline Matilda Wife of Nathan Rogers Born April 23, 1801. 
Died June 18, 1857. 

James H. Rogers Born Sent. 1, 1829. Died March 12, 1901. 
Edmund Rogers Died at sea May 17th, 1861. Aged 36 yea' s 
-Mary Z. wife of Edmund Rogers Died Nov. 13, 1853. Ae. 



22. 

Samuel Denison Rogers Died May 18th, 1853. Aged 31 



years. 

-Ellen Miner Daughter of George 1. & Fanny B. Rogers 



Died May 4th, 1860. Ae. 3 ys. 10 mo. 14 ds. 

-Fanny Alline oldest Daughter of George T. & Fanny B. 



Rogers Died Nov. 20, 1858. Ae. 9 ys. 4 mo. 28 dys. 

George T. Rogers Died February 1st, 1862. Aged 35 years. 

James H. Rogers 1829—1901. 

-Monument, W. Side. Charles Henry Rogers born Nov. 12, 



1806, died Sept. 22, 1880. 

Mary wife of Charles Henry Rogers born April 18, 1815, died 

March 11, 1890. 

A'^. Side. Died infant son of Charles Henry and Mary Rogers 

Sept. 13, 1837. Aged 23 days. 

S. Side. John son of Charles Henry and Mary Rogers born 

Dec. 20, 1838. died Aug. 12, 1906. 

Matsey wife of Abraham Rogers died June 4, 1834. Ae. 40. 

Henrv T. Rogers died April 25, 1889. Ae. 75 ys. & 7 mo 

-Polly widow of Ezekiel H. Rogers died Oct. 16, 1881. Ae. 



90 ys. & 3 mo. 

Ezekiel H. Rogers died Dec. 7, 1849. Ae. 65. 

-Mary F. wife of David Rogers died Jan. 17, 1892. Ae. 53 



yrs. & 5 mo. 

Dear Mother in earth's thorny paths 
How long thy feet have trod 
To find at last this perfect rest 
Safe in the arms of God. 

In memory of Phebe widow of John Rogers who died Octo- 
ber 22, 1862. Aged 77 years 6 months and 9 days. 

-In memory of David T. Rogers son of John and Phebe 



Rogers born June 20th, 1824. died Dec. 18th, 1842. 

His eyes are no longer dim 
His feet will no more falter 
No grief can follow him 
No pang his cheek can alter. 



374 OLD CEMETERY 

In memory of Mary Ann daughter of John and Phebe Rog- 
ers who died September 13th, 1836, aged 21 years. 
A dutiful and affectionate daughter — a kind and loving sister — an 
ardent friend. She lived beloved and died lamented. 

T would not live alway, I ask not to otay 

Where storm after storm rises dark o'er the way. 

The few lurid mornings that dawn on us here 

Are enough for life's woes, tull enough for its cheer 

1 would not live alway, no, welcome the tomb 

Since Jesus hath lain there I dread not its gloom • 

There must be my rest till he bid me arise 

To hail him in triumph descending the skies. 

In Memory of John Rogers who died February 4th, 1852. 

Aged 70 years and 18 days. 

T know that he shall rise again on the last day. 
-Little Winnie our first born. Winfred Clmton son of Wm. 



H. H. & Libbie H. Rogers died April 4, 1869. Ae. 2 mo. & 17 
ds. 

-Joshua Rogers died March 3, 1846. Ae. 32 ys. 



Maryetta widow of Joshua Rogers died Feb. 1, 1849. Ae. 34 ys. 
Wm. H. H. Rogers born March 3, 1843, died Sept. 12, 1900. 
Joshua B. Rogers Jr. died Tune 1, 1863. Ae. 25 ys. & 7 mo. 

ROSE. — Sacred to the memory of Doctor Samuel H. Rose whose 
mortal remains are here deposited, this humble Monument is 
erected by his surviving widow and children. 
He was born May 29, 1761, and died July 10, 1832, in the 72 year 
of his age. 

Educated to the profession of a Physician in New Jersey, he 
there served as an assistant Suigeon in the Army of the United 
Colonies, during a part of the American Revolution. At the 
close of the Revolution he returned to Bridgehampton his na- 
tive place, where he practiced extensively and with great suc- 
cess till within a few years of his death. 

As a man he was honest, as a Physician skillful, attentive and 
kind, as a husband and father lender and affectionate, and as a 
believer in the atonement of Christ, he died in the joyful hope 
of a blessed immortality. 

The grave of Hannah widow of Samuel H. Rose who died 

Nov. 9, 1844. Ae. 84. 

-Blessed are they which die in the Lord. 



To the memory of Abraham T. Rose who was born 1792, grad- 
uated at Yale 1814. admitted to the bar m 1817. 
As a husband and father kind and indulgent, as a friend ana 
citizen faithful and benevolent, as a judge and jurist upright and 
learned — he departed this life in peace and in the christian hope 
of a blessed immortality April 28, 1857. Aged 05. 

-In memory of Eliza wife of Hon. Abraham T. Rose who 



departed this life Sept. 12th, 1867. Ae. 64 ys. 
They rest from their labours. 
-In memory of Dr. Samuel Rose only son of A. T. & Eliza 



Rose born June 26th, 1827. graduated at the medical college 
N. Y. March 8th, 1850. died Aug. 30th, 1850 in the 24th year of 
his age. 



OLD CEMETERY 375 

A rare youth remarkable for uniform correctness of deportment 
and amenity of temper, but Even youth, bright hope and a blame- 
less life, are insuffcient to arrest the approach of death. 

-Matilda daughter of the Hon. Abram and Eliza Rose died 



Jan. 7, 1910. 

And this is the promise he hath promised us, even eternal life. 

David P. Rose Died Jan. 25. 1885. Ae. 72 yrs. 

-Mary S. widov^ of Dav'd P. Rose Bern Feb. 19, 1816. Died 



Oct. 21, 1894. 
RUG. Sarah Rug died Sept. 21. 1846. E. 21. 

For I know^ that mv P.edeemer liveth. 
RUGG. Nancy wife of Jehu Rugg died May 18, 1868. Ae. 68, 

Jehu Rugg died Feb. ?4, 18/8. Ae. 76 ys. & 9 mo. 

Amanda v^rife of Kingston Rugg died Feb. 22nd, 1880. Ae. 

73 

Our son Robert J. Rugg died Oct. 16th, 1875. Ae. 33. 
SANFORD. Marcus B. Sanford. June 24, 1831. May 77, 1904. 
Elbert Newton son of Marcus B. & Mary L. Sandford died 

Aug. 25, 1865. Ae. 3 yrs. 9 mos. 

He has left this world of sorrov 
For a brighter home above 
In heaven to live forever 
That land of peace and love. 

-Shaft, W. Side. Hiram Sandford born Feb. 14th, 1783, died 



April 12th, 1865. Ae. 82 yrs. 

Abigail Wife of Hiram Sandford born Mov. 19th, 1782, died Dec. 

11th, 1844. Ae. 62 yrs. 

The righteous shall be had in everlasting remembrance. 

N. Side. George M. Rogers, born March 6th, 1809, died April 

1st, 1877. 

Esther M. Sandford wife of George M. Rogers born Oct. 30th, 

1811, died Dec. 18th, 1870. 

Cornelia Sandford. Ae. 77 ys. widow of George M. Rogers died 

Dec. 2nd. 1889. 

-In Memory of Hannah Wife of Lewis Sanford who died Jany. 



23rd, 1804, in the 39th year of her age. 

-In Memory of Elias Sandford who died July 31, 1838. Ae. 



71 yrs. 

Farewell and shall we meer 
In Heaven above 
And there in union sweet 
Sing of a Saviour's love. 

-In Memory of Susan wife of Job Sanford who died April 5, 



1825, in her 59 year. 

No more by care and pain oppress'd 
Here lov'd and best of mothers rest 
Till the last trumph shall wake thy dust 
Then may we meet thee with the jus*- 

Died April 13, 1850. Marv Ann Sandfor i. Ae. 48. 

Blessed are the dead which die m the "..ord. 

Capt. Teremiah Sandford born Oct. 20, i;'68. Died July 10, 

1835. Ae. 66. 



376 OLD CEMETERY 

-In Memory of Mary Relict of Jeremiah Sandford who died 



Apr. 18, 1855. Ae. 80 yrs. 

-In Memory of Job Sandford who died Oct. 14, 1831. Ae. 



65. 

When death doth throw its fatal dari 
And nearest earthly friends must part 
Parents must leave their children dear 
When they the awful summons hear. 

In Memory of Elias Son of Silvanus & Nancy Sandford who 

died May 16, 1808, in the 8 year of his age. 

-The grave of Hannah wife of Silvanus Sandford who de- 



parted this life March 26th, 1829, in the 46th year of her age. 

Blessed are the dead that die in the Lor 1. They rest from their 
labours, and their works do follow them. 

-Erected to the memory of Elizabeth P. wife of Abraham H. 



Sandford who died July 8, 184P. Ae. 46. 

Rest wearied dust 

In the bosom of the earth 

Rest happy spirit 

In the bosom of thy God. 

Abraham H. Sanford died Aug. 31, 1853. Ae, 55. 

Susan widow of Abrah.arr Sandfon' died May 7, 1859. Ae. 

62. 

There is a glorious rest for weeping mortals given, 
And when they sink on earth's cold breast, 

They find that rest in Hea^'cn. 

-Father & Mother. 



Edward Sandford died Dec. 1 1882. Ae. 79 ys. & U mo. 
Martha Strong wife of Edward Sandforc' died April 4, 1887. Ae. 
83 ys. & 10 mo. Gone home. 

-Juliet daughter of Edwar'^ & Martha Sandford died Sep. 30, 



1861. Ae. 15 yrs. 5 mo. 

Meet me in Heaven. 
-In memory of George Sandford who died Oct. 10, 1810. 



Ae. 40. 

-In Memory of Mr. Beriah Sandford who died Augt. 2d, 



1792, in the 30thi Year of his Age. 

Death is a debt to Nature due 
Which I have paid & so must you. 

-In Memory of Jonah Sandford who died Novr. 27th, 1771, 



in the 52 Year of his Age. 
SAYRE. Sarah E. wife of Stephen Sayre died Oct. 27, 1876. Ae. 

42 ys. & 3 mo. 

Stephen Sayre Died Sept. 12, 1908. Ae. 76 ys. & 3 mo. 

Fanny P. Daughter of Stephen & Sarah E. Sayre. Died Jan. 20, 

1877. Ae. 15 yrs. 

Stephen Sayre Born Mar:'.i 9, 1772. Died July 3, 1822. 

-Sophia Rysom widow of Stephen Sayre Born Aug. 27, 1779. 



Died Dec. 12, 1858. 

-William P. son of Stephen & Sophia R. Sayre Born Dec. 2, 



1809. Died Sept. 25, 1829. 



OLD CEMETERY 377 

Mary C. Daughter of DavH M. & Eugenia Sayre Died Jan. 



1837. Aged 18 months 

She's on her Saviour's bosom laid 
And feels no sorrow th.-re 
She's by an heavenly Parent fed 
And needs no more your care. 



Eugenia wife of David M. Sayre Born Jan. 20. 1811 Died 

April 20, 1859. 

David M. Sayre Born Oct 10th, 180/. Died May 20, 1860. 

-In Memory of Zepaniah Sayre who died Oct. 29, 1840. 



aged 78 years. 

-Mrs. Juliana wife of Zephaniah Sayre died Nov. 4, 1837. 



Ae. 70. 

Captain Uriah Sayre d'cd Jan. 16, 1872. Ae. 82 ys. & 10 mo 

SCHELLINGER. Father— Jeremiah Schellinger died June 13^ 

1871. Ae. 62 yrs. 6 mos. 

Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord. 
Charles A. Schellinger. Aged 20 ys. & 1(; mo. 

We loved him, yes ! no tongue can tell, 
How much we loved him and how well; 
God loved him too, and He thought best, 
To take him home, and be at rest. 

-Mother. Mary L. wi^e of Jeremiah Schellinger died Oct. 



16, 1887. Ae. 68 ys. & 8 mo. 
Well done good and faithf A servant. Enter thou into the joy of 
thy Lord. 
SCHOY. Klelius Schoy 1845—1880. 
Anna Marae his wife 1841 — 19.... 
Henry Albert infant. 

Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord. 

SHERAN. Died Oct. 30, 1852. Mrs. Ellen Sheran. Ae. 21. 
SMITH. In Memory of Sylvester R. Smith who died Aug. 17, 
1843. Ae. 26. 

Come dear youth and view this age 
And be prepared to quit this stage 
Renounce the world and all its charms 
That you may rest in his dear arms. 

Phebe widow of Thomas Smith died April 24, 1872. Ae. 94 

ys. 5 mo. & 20 ds. 
SOULE. Mary P. Hand wife of Frank Soule born May 17, 1823, 

died Sept. 4, 1848. 
SPEAR. Emeline Spear died April 19. 1897. Ae. 83 ys. 7 mo. & 

16 ds. 

All is well. 
SQUIRES. Theron W. Squires 1839—1904. 

His wife Mary E. 1843.— 
Minnie W. Daughter of T. W. & Mary E. Squires Died Nov. 

5, 1888. Ae. 21 ys. 9 mo. & 13 ds. 

Gone from our home but not from our hearts. 



378 OLD CEMETERY 

-Roland E. son of T. W. & Mary E. Squires Died March 5. 



1885. Ae. 8 mos. 
STANBOROUGH. Memory of Elizabeth wife of Stephen Stan- 
borough who died June 11, 1824 in her 72) year. 

Death is a debt to nature due, 
Which I have paid and so must you. 

STEEN. Mary A. Steen died Jan. 29, 1863. Ae. 65. 

Captain John Steen died Oct. 12, 1870. Ae. 48. Mason's 

Insignia. 

Mary E. wife of John Steen died April 7, 1897. Ae. 67 yrs. 

" Ernest Denison Steen died Oct. 20, 1888. Ae. 34 ys. & 7 



mo. 

-John H. son of Capt. John & Mary E. Steen died April 15, 



1874. Ae. 6 ys. 7 mo. 

-Mary Adelaide Steen died Feb. 25, 1907. Ae. 49 yrs. 



STRATTEN. In Memory of Abraham ye Son of Eliphalet & Phebe 
Stratten who died Dec. ye 27th, 1762, in ye 27th year of his age. 
TaLMAGE. Daniel Talmage Died Oct. 3, 1858. Ae. 74 yrs. 2 mo. 

Mary Ann Talmage born May ^9, 1818. Died April 24, 1874. 

She hath done what she could. 

Susan M. wife of Daniel Talmage died Feb. 16, 1858. Ae. 

72 yrs. 6 mo. 
TALLMAGE. Alfred Tallmage died May 27, 1883. Ae. 79 yrs. 

4 mos. Gone but not forpotten. 
TERBELL. Hettie M. Osborne widow of George Lester and 
Charles Terbell— died March 1st, 1916. Ae. 78 yrs. 4 mos. 12 ds. 
QTERRY. Jerusha A. wife of Phineas Terry died Oct. 15th, 1860. 
Ae. 39 ys. 

? Emily Augusta 1864, (next to above). 

Phineas B. Terry died Oct. 14, 1890. Ae. ZZ vs. 10 mo. & 

20 ds. Safe in the arms of Jesus. 
TIFFANY. Shaft, N. Side. Nathan Newton Tiflfany son of 
Nathan N. & Mary A. Tiffany Born January 29, 1857. Died 
April 15, 1894. 

W. Side. Nathan N. Tiflfany Born March 17, 1812. Died April 
29 1882 

Mary A. Widow of Nathan N. Tiflfanv Born Aug. 17, 1824. Died 
December 27, 1895. 

Oh stranger if thou hast a sigh 
A pitying sigh for others' woes, 
Then linger yet a moment nigh 
For sacred ashes here repose. 
Oh did'st thou know what relics sleep 
In this dark cold sepulchral bed 
Perhaps thou'dst sit like ine and weep 
For what I hold most dear is dead. 
TITUS. Violet wife of Wm. Titus died May 31, 1869. Ae. 66 yrs. 
'Tis hard to part I know. Yet I would not live always no, Wel- 
come the tomb. Since Jesus has lain there I dread not the gloom. 
POPPING. Janet S. Topping 1838—1908. 

Charles H. Topping 1832—1884. 

In Memory of Abraham ToDping who died November ye 

10th A. D. 1760 in ye 27th Year of his age. 



OLD CEMETERY 379 

Died March 18, 1817. Prudence widow of Abraham Top- 
ping. Ae. 86. 

Oh! May we tread the Heavenly path 
Which thou hast trod before 
And meet thee in yon world above 
Where we shall part no more. 

In memory of Jones Topping who died March 10, 1824. 

Aged 23. 

Life and the grave two different lessons give 
Life teaches how to die. Death how to live. 

-Sacred to the memory of Capt. Abram. Topping an Elder 



of the Churcht He was a humble Christian, lived respected 
& died lamented April 15, 1818. Aged 55 years. 

Ye friends that weep around my grave 

Compose your minds to resl 

Prepare with me for tudden death 

And live forever blessed. 

A few short years of evil past 

We reach the happy shore 

Where death divided friend*; at last 

Shall meet to part no more. 

-Puah widow of Elisha Toppiiip" died April 15, 1876. Ae. 



87 yrs. 

-In memory of Elisha Topping who died June 2, 1819. Aged 



31. 

fate. A sudden rush from Life's meridian Joys. 

A wrench from all we love, and (J! the last, last silence of a 
friend. 

-In Memory of Mary wife of Dr. Nath.. .. Topping a sincere 



Christian who died in the triumph of faith, March 1, 1819. Ae. 
31. 

"What divides our fate? Perhaps a moment or perhaps a year. 
Or if an age, it is a moment still. Life makes the soul depend- 
ant on the dust. Death gives her wings to mount above the 
spheres. This King of terrors is the prince of peace. Then 
welcome death that wounds to cure. We fall, We rise. We 
reign." 
Rebecca widow of Paul Topoing died May 12, 1864. Ae. 84 



yrs. 

Blessed are the meek for the> shall inherit the earth. 
-Paul Topping died March 20 1847. Ae. 67. 



Mark the perfect man and behold the upright for the end of that 
man is peace. 

— Almira J. Wife of Alanson Tupping died Feb. 4, 1869. Ae. 
64 yrs. Faithful unto death. 

-Captain Alanson Topping died Dec. 10, 1879. Ae. 77 yrs 



At rest. 

-Emily daughter of Alanson & Almira Topping died Feb. 15, 



1914. Ae. 73 ys. 

-In memory of Jane Daughter of Stephen S. & Rebekah Top- 



ping who died Sept. 19, 1805. Aged 17 years and 15 days. 



380 OLD CEMETERY 

-In Memory of Rebeckah Wife of Stephen S. Topping who 



died Septr. 25, 1805, aged 41 years 11 mo. & 16 days. 

Stephen S. Topping died Feb. 2, 1840. Ae. .76. 

-Jerusha relict of Stephen S. Tonping died Sept. 16, 1853. 



Ae. 79. 

-In Loving Remembrance of Annie E. Wife of Albert E. 



Topping January 18, 1846. April 24. 1891. 

-Zerviah L. wife of Wm. S. Topping died Nov. 9, 1849. A.e. 



38. 



I would not live alway remote ^rom my God, 

An exile from heaven that blissful abode 

Where rivers of pleasure flow o'er the bright plains 
And the noontide glory eternally reigns 
There saints of all ages in harmony meet, 
Their Savior and brethren transplanted to greet 

While anthems of rapture unceasingly. . (Rest buried). 

— Capt. Wm. S. Topping died Oct. 26, 1879. Ae. 73 yrs. & 6 



mo. 

Lieut. Wm. O. Topping died April 29, 1863. Ae. 25 yrs. Killed 

at Battle of Vicksburg. 
TYNDALL. Fell asleep in Jesus Dec. 18, 1885. Addie wife of 

Richard Tyndall. Ae. 25 yrs. & 26 dvs 

Richard Tyndall 1848—1903. 

Thomas Tyndall departed this life Aug. 14, 1853. Ae. 52 ys. 

Jane widow of Thomas Tyndall departed this life June 15, 1887. 

Ae. 84 ys. & 5 mo. 

-Shaft, N. Side. Thomas Tyndall 1831—1903. At rest. 



W. Side. John W. son of T. & L. Tyndall Born Nov. 22, 1866. 

Died May 26, 1895. 

Eliza J. Daughter of T. & L. Tyndall Born March 11, 1858. 

Died Aug. 3, 1861. Gone to rest. 
WEBER. Valentin Weber Born in Hattenbach, Germany, Jan. 8, 

1807. Died July 4, 1877. Ae. 69 vs. & 6 mo. 
WHEELER. Sacred to the niemorj of Solomon Wheeler of the 

City of New York who died Aug. 26, 1833. Ae. 67. 
WHITE. Henry White died June 6, 1<^71. Ae. 74 yrs. 

Tho' I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will 
fear no evil for thou art with me. — Ps. XXIII. 4. 

-Eliza Rogers widow of Henry White died May 4, 1881. Ae. 



81 ys. 8 mo. & 11 ds. 

And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me Write — Blessed 

are the dead which die in the Lord. Rev. 14. 13. 

-George H. White born June 20th. 1828, died January 25th, 



1879. Our Brother is at rest. _ 

-Alfred Cook son of Henry & iL.\iza R. White died July 29, 



1843. Ae. 9 yrs. 10 mo. 

-John E. White born April 26, 1838 died Feb. 26, 1911. 



His wife Martha I. born Nov. 8, 1848 — 

Benjamin F. White Born Jan. 3, 1S30, died April 11, 1895. 

-Isabella Graj' daughter of John E. & Martha White died 



April 27, 1884. Ae. 7 ys. & 10 mo. 
The Lord is my Shepherd. 



OLD CEMETERY 381 

Bennie R. Son of Benjamin F. & Frances Z. White died Jan. 

22, 1861. Ae. 8 mo. & 20 ds. 

God hath our treasure. 

WILLER.(?) Our little Bertie died April 20, 1883. Ae. 4 yrs. 8 mo. 

(?)Our little Arvie died March 26, 1883. Ae. 2 yrs. 1 mo. 

WINTERS. My dear Mother. Mary C. Sandford Winters 1809 

—1898. 

Hannah E. Winters 1834—1908. 

Charles Sandford 1815—1891. 
WOODRUFF. Daniel O. Woodrur. Died Dec. 29, 1900. Ae. 75 

ys. 6 mos. 

Beulah Dau. of Daniel & Ruth Woodrue Died Jan. 1, 1876 

Aged 54 yrs. 7 Mos. & 9 Ds. 

Sleep on dear sister take thy rest 

God called thee home when he thought best. 

Herman Woodruff Died Oct. 12, 1887. Ae. 79 ys. & 7 mo. 
Tomorrow shall the Traveller come and he that saw me in the 
days of my youth shall search the fields and not find me. 

-Augusta P. Wife of Capt. Sam'l C. Woodruff died April 12th, 



1854. Aged 32 years 2 mo. & 12 days. 
Ada Augusta Woodruff died March ?5, 1855. Aged 5 years 10 
mos. & 25 days. 

Evelyn Woodruff died April 5th, 185^. Aged 3 years & 27 days. 
-Mary Evelyn daughter of Capt. S. C. & M. A. Woodruff 



died at Nagasaki, Japan, Aug. 19th, 1S63. Ae. 1 yr. 6 mos. 
Of such is the Kingdom of Heaven. 
-In memory of Ruth relict of Daniel Woodruif who died Feb. 



8, 1842. Aged 56 years. 

No mortal woes can reach the peaceful sleeper here. 
While angels watch her soft repose. 
To the best of mothers who reposes here in peace. 

Abagail F. Woodruff died March 30th, 1866. Ae. 85 yrs. 



The righteous shall be in everla«;ting remembrance 

—Charity widow of Job Woodruff died June 12, 1860. Ae. 80.* 
-Job Woodruff died Nov. 1857. Ae. 81.* 
-In Memory of Benjn. Rogers Woodruff son of Job & 



Charity Woodruff who died Oct. 7, 1822. Ae. 8 ys. 8 mo. & 22 ds.* 

A lovely and an only son. 
By death was called to bear his early doom 
No more he sins we hope no more he dies 
But dwells with God above the eternal skies. 

-In Memory of Rogers Son or Jesse & Temperance Wood- 



ruff who died Sept. 26, 1800. Aged 15 years. (Verse illegible.)* 
-In Memory of Temperance wife of Jesse Woodruff who died 



March 27th, 1785, in the 20th year of her age.* 
Jesse Woodruff died July 9, 1857. Ae. 92.* 



382 OLD CEMETERY 

-Mrs. Sally Woodruff wife of Jesse Woodruff died Feb. 5 



1837. Ae. 75.* 

Tis God that lifts our comforts high 
Or sinks them in the grave. 
He takes and blessed be his nante, 
He takes but what he gave. 

Sacred to the memory of Silas Woodruff who departed this 

life April 1st, 1829, in the 85th year (Broken).* 

-Margaret daughr. of Silas & Jane Woodruif died Jan. 25, 



1814. Ae. 2 mo.* 

-In Memory of Hannah wife of Silas Woodruff who died Feb. 



9, 1825. Ae. 80.* 

Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from whenceforth 

Yea, saith 

-In Memory of Jerusha Relict of James Woodruff deceased 



who died Nov. 1804 in the 29th year of her age.* 

-In Memory of Elizabeth Wife of Benjn. Woodruff who died 



Oct. 9th, 1800 in the 65th year of her age.* 

-In Memory of Benjamin Woodruff who died Feb. 23, 1808. 



Ae. 73 ys. 2 mo. & 11 ds.* 

Life and the grave two different lessons are. 
Life teaches how to die, death how to live. 

In Memory of David Woodruff Tun. who departed this life 

March 9th, 1782. Aged 34 Years.* 

"One dieth in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet. 
His breasts are full of milk, and his bones are moistened with 
marrow." Jos. 21 Chapter 23d & 24th Vs. 

-In Memory of Prudance Woodruff wife of David Woodruff 



who departed this life May 10th, 1789. Aged 71 years.* 
Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints. 
Psalms 116th 15th Vs. 

-In Memory of David Woodruff who departed this life Nov. 



29th, 1795. Aged the 78th Year.* 

For he was a good man and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith. 

Acts. 11th Chapter and 24th Vs. 

Capt. Jesse Woodruff died Jan. 30, 1886. Ae. 77 yrs. 

-In memory of Daniel Woodruff who died Sept. 21, 1831. 



Aged 52 ys. 11 mo. Rest in peace. 

-In memory of Daniel Woodruff who died July 22, 1825, in the 



78 year of his age. 

Time how short — Eternity how long. 
-The grave of Hannah wife of Daniel Woodruff who died 



Aug. 1st, 1833. Aged 86 years and 11 months. 

All on earth is shadow — All beyond is substance. 

WOODWARD. Ann E. Woodward died Sept. 17, 1885. Ae. 77 
yrs. 5 mos. At rest. 

WOOLWORTH. Sacred to the Memory of the Rev. Aaron Wool- 
worth D.D., who departed this Life April 2d, 1821, in the 58 
year of his Age and the 34th of his Ministry. He was born 
at Long Meadow, Mass., October 25th, 1763, Graduated at Yale 
College in 1784, was ordained and installed Pastor of this Con- 



OLD CEMETERY 383 

gregation Aug 30th, 1787, received the honorary degree of D.D, 
from Princeton College in 1809 and was constituted a life mem- 
ber of the American Bible Society by the Ladies of his Con- 
gregation in 1817. Possessed of a sound active and povi^erful 
mind richly stored with the treasures of Literature and Science, 
and of a tender and benevolent heart, early sanctified by Divine 
Grace, he adorned the relations of friend, brother, husband, pa- 
rent and minister. As a christian he aimed to keep his heart 
with all diligence, and to adorn the doctrine of God his 
Saviour in all things. As a Divine he was Mighty in the Scrip- 
tures and had investigated the whole field of theological Sci- 
ence. As a preacher he was instructive, discriminating and 
pungent. And as a pastor he was faithful to his flock, and 
abounded in all the duties of the sacred office. His death was 
peaceful and happy. This stone was erected as a testimony of 
respect and afifection by his Congregation. 
-Robert Woolworth. 1824—1904. 



WORTHINGTON. Mary E. wife of John A. Worthington born 

Feb. 12, 1854, died Dec. 31, 1880. 

Babv Worthington. 

WRIGHT. My husband Nathan H. Wright, M.D., Born Dec. 10. 

1841. Died March 16, 1877. Assistant Surgeon 26th Regt. Conn. 

Vols. Afterwards First Assistant Surgeon 10th Conn. Veteran 

Regt. At rest. 
Shaft, E. Side. Children of L. D. & Amanda M. Wright. 

S. Side. Levi D. born July 19, 1838, died Jan. 6, 1839. 

A^. Side. Levi D. born April 14, 1840, died July 30, 1847. 
God made me so. 
-Levi D. Wright, M. D., born Nov. 8, 1810, died March 23. 



1883. 

The righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance. 
Mary Amanda wife of L. D. Wright, M.D., born Sept. 1, 1809, 
died July 3, 1886. 

At evening time shall be light. 

YOUNGS. Shaft, E. Side. John F. Youngs born Jan. 31, 1824, 
died March 10, 1903. 

Betsey M. wife of John F. Youngs, born July 20, 1827, died 
Oct. 15, 1897. 
IV. Side. Frank H. Youngs born Aug. 1, 1855, died May 29, 1876. 

NOTES. 

* Removed from Scuttle Hole cemetery. 

**Removed from Loper family burying ground. 
FLINT — see Jennings. 
HAND — See Havens. 
HARDACRE— see Ludlow. 
SANDFORD— See Winters. 



384 



MUSTER ROLL OF 1715 



MUSTER ROLL OF 1715 



The following Mustei- Roll in the office of the Secretary of State, 
Albany, (Doc'ts. Vol. V 60 p. 68) contains the names of the men 
and officers of a Suffolk County Regiment under date Nov. 5, 1715. 
I found it among the scrap books of the late Rev. Geo. R. Howell, 
who had found it at Albany while State Librarian. It was pub- 
lished in the Sag Harbor Express, June 23, 1881. I give below the 
names of those in the Bridgehampton Company. 



Topping, Josiah, Capt. 
Topping, Stephen 
Howell, Elisha 
Pierson, Theodore 
Hedges, Daniel 
Rose, Martin 
Halsey, David 
Cooke, Obadiah 
Clarke, Eliphalet 
Rescue, Ammy 
Tarbell, William 
Flint, John 
Howell, Thomas 
Carwithy, John 
Howell, Benj. 
White, James 
Morris, John 
Haines, Samuell 
Sanford, Thomas 
Hildreth, James 
Cooke, Elias 
Smith, William 
Hand, Josiah 
Stanburough, John 
Woodruff, Nathaniell 
Halsey, Thomas 
Hildreth, Daniel 
Topping, Josiah 
Ludlam, Henry 
Sanford, Zechariah 
More, Joseph 
Willmut, Alexander 
Hildreth, Joshua 



Sayre, Ethan 
Rose, Israel 
Stanburough, Josiah 
Miller, Isaac 
Stevens, Charles 
Cooke, Abiell 
Halsey, Jeremiah 
Haines, James 
Lume, Samuell 
Cooper, Thomas 
Lupton, David 
Cook, Jonathan 
Harris, Samuell 
Jagger, Jonathan 
Howell, Edward 
Petty, Elias 
Halsey, Abraham 
Ludlam, Jeremiah 
Halsey, Jeremiah 
Howell, Theophilus 
Cooper, John 
White, Elnathan 
Bennit, Benjamin 
Rogers, Zechariah 
Ludlam, Henry 
Lumm, Mathew 
Wood, Jacob 
Sanford, Ezekiel 
Sa^yre, Isaac 
Wike, Job 
Pierson, Job 
Sweary, Mathias 



INDEX 



Note: The Appendix is not included in this Index, as the Tomb- 
stone inscriptions are arranged in alphabetical order in each 
cemetery as there noted, and on account of the great number of 
repetitions of both surnames and Christian names, I did not think 
including them, again in alphabetical order, in the Index would 
facilitate reference. The short Muster Roll at the end of the book 
was found too late to be included. 

Abstract of Laws of Judgment. .. .109 

Academy 181ff 

Agawam . 39 

Albertson, Dan'l 137 

Allen, Wm 292-299 

Amagansett 29, 39, 288 

Am. Eagle 161-162 

Andres, Gov 55 

Arnold, Edward 235 

Articles of Association 125-129 

Austen's Pond, see Ponds 

Bacon, Jas 152 

Baker, Edward 252 

Henry 277 

Balloons 251-252 

Bangs, Wm 209 

Banishment Ill 

Barber, Eng. Rec 65 

Samuel 103 

Barnes, Chas 68 

Wm 74-75-258 

Joshua 74 

Barker, Wm 56 

Barret, Richard 258 

Bay-puss, see Seapoose 

Beach lOff , 60, 61 

"Beach House" 85 

Becktill, Andrew 152 

Bell, G. A 152 

Bellows, Wm. S 291 

Beman, Josiah 35 

Benedict, R. F 152 

Benedict's Creek, see Mill Creek 



Bennett, Lewis 277 

Berwind, John E 18-210-230-231 

Beswick, John 81-215-216 

Bills, Edwin 288 

Bishop, Armstrong 127 

C 292 

Black Pond, see Ponds 

Blatz, H 209 

Boardman, Alphonse 291 

Bond, Robt 258 

Books 121-157 

Also see Library 

Bostock, Arthur 258 

Bowdish, A. C 209 

Bower, Jeremiah 127 

David 127 

Hezekiah 128-137 

Bradley, Frank 237 

Branford 52-72 

Bread, Allen 44, 45 

Brewin, Geo 152 

Brickiln Road, see Roads 

Bricks 215 

Bridges, Sagg 91-92 

Brien, John 209 

Bridgehampton bounds 16 

Name 64 

B'hampton Moral Soc 203 

Browne, Wm 71 

Brown, Henry 127-138 

Caleb 127 

Charles 152-201 

Wm. H. H 152 



386 



INDEX 



James .. 169-185-192-221-222-199-201 

T 290 

Brudgeworth, Fred 152 

Henry 152 

Brushy Plain 90-91-167 

Bryant, Wm. Cullen 173 

Budd, John 284 

Buell, Rev. Dr 136 

Mary 203 

Bull Head 91 

Bull Head Tavern 92ff, lOOff 

Bull Head Turnpike Co 233 

Bunn, Wm. & David 36 

Burial Expenses 121 

Burnet, Burnat, Burnut, Joel 78 

Aaron 78-103 

Dan 78-103 

John 78 

Mathias 94 

Ichabod 103 

Moses 103 

Thomas 258 

G. H 291-296-300-301-305 

Burroughs, Stephen 170fr, 175 

Burt, Samuel 94 

Burying Grounds, 98-99, see Appendix 

Sagg 69-79 

Poxabogue 79-99 

Mecox 88-98 

Hay Ground 99 

Main Street 99 

Butler, Pierce 90-220 

Byron, John 152 

Calendar 42, 45 

Calf, or Calve's, Creek 11. 18 

Calf Pen Neck 87 

Camp's Pond, see Ponds 

Cannon, Elisha 288 

Cannon, old 237fE 

Canoe Place 50 

Canterbury, Ct 136 

Cape May, N. J 12-75-77-86 

Carleton, Sir Guy 135 

Carr, Wm. M 209 

Carter, Chas 244 

Case, Jas 291 

Cellars 213 

Chapin, Benj 141-137 

Chapman, Marierne 65 

Chappell, Benj 137 

Chester, Ct 136-137-181-182 

Cherry, John F 211 

Chimnies 214 

Church, Charles H 235 

Churches, Presbyterian 184ff 



Methodist 209 

Episcopalian 210 

R. Catholic 210 

New Light 201-206 

Clarke, Samuel 55-56-137 

Clark, Elihu 137 

Coast Guard 235 

Cobb 39 

Cochrane, Maj 131-132-133-142-225 

Coe, Robt 72 

Collins, Wm 218 

Commons 46-56-58-59-223 

Triangular 101-102-209 

Concer, Pyrrhus 291-292 

Coney, Watson C 291 

Conklin, Isaac 268 

Jedediah 291-300-301 

Conkling, Charles 31 

Silvanus 127-137 

Conn. Wm 127 

Connecticut 51-52-53-54-55-84-lll-135ff- 
139 

Conscience Point 51 

Cook, Ellis 55-81-82-83-85-88-258 

Eng. Records 65 

A. M 16-17-88-146-220 

Susanna 88 

John 93-103-141-187-305 

Augustus 99-222 

John L 115 

Jona 127-137-128 

Silas : 128-137 

David 133-137-252 

J. Lawrence 252 

Theophilus 150-193 

Ellias 103-252 

Obadiah 103 

Elijah 103 

James 137 

John M 137 

Rebecca 137 

Luther D 164-283 

Richard 178-199 

J. Rogers 178 

Sullivan 199 

Baldwin 235 

Stephen 252 

Abigail 252 

John H 291 

Cook's Creek 18 

Cooper, John, 44-45-54-55-73-106-115 
-123-179-258-261-262-264 

Eng. Rec'd 65 

Thomas, 73-85-86-87-94-128-103-258- 
261 



INDEX 



3S7 



Margaret 73 

James 93-263 

Mary 96 

Nathan 96 

Sarah 99 

Zebulon 136 

Richard 103 

Mathew 127 

Silas 137-193 

Josiah 193 

Abraham 264 

Huntting 277 

Copp, Rev. Mr 286 

Corey, Henry J 152 

George 177 

John 258 

Corwin. Geo. H 287-304 

Corwithe. John 127-178-193 

W. Augustus ' 98-183 

Henry 127-167-193-218 

Caleb 128 

S. R 168-210 

Silas W 178-179-181-204 

Wm 209 

David 221 

Howell 292-302-310 

Court* 52-112 

Creation Myth Iff 

Crook. Benj 127 

John B. 291-302 

Chas 291 

Crooked Pond, see Ponds 

Cuffee family 36, 39, 170 

Culver, Moses 264 

Cutchogue 28 

Dains, Paul 193 

John 193 

Davenport, James 206 

John 206 

Davies, Fulk 258 

Davis, Robt 231 

Dayton, Capt. Beriah 144 

Deacons 185 

Declaration of the Company 45ff 

Deeds, Farretfs 47-49 

1st Indian 50 

2d Indian 56 

Deep Pond, see Ponds 

Deerfield 61 

Deer's Hole, see Ponds 

Denison, Wm. S 291 

DePeyster, Col. Abraham 94-95 

Dering, N. R 283-287 

C. T 283-284 

Deshler, John 210 



Diamond fam., Eng. Rec'd 65 

Thomas 103 

Dickens, Henry 236 

Dickerson, Abraham 127 

Dickinson, Edward H 183-220 

Dimon, Nathan H 152-291 

Disposall of the Vessell 45ff, 56-57 

Divisions, land, of 61 

1653 14-66-81 

1738 14 

1712 61-89 

1677 75-87 

1679 89-217 

Dix, John 152 

Doane, Rebecca 207 

John 207 

Doctors 113 

Dodd, Samuel 205 

Dodge, J. L 291-294 

Dogs, Indian 118 

Dongan, Gov 56 

D'Orsay, J. Stanley 209 

Doxey's Creek, see Jobs 

Drought, Great 158 

Drunkeness 120ff 

Duke's Laws 53 

Dunes, llff, see Beach 

Dunster, Richard 232 

Mr 299 

Durham, Ct 170 

Dutch 48ff,-53-54-55 

Dutcher, E. H 209 

Early, James 251 

East Haddam 136-137 

East Hampton, 15-50-55-67-68-75-79-82- 
87-101-102-114-121-125-126- 128- 130- 
186-210-203 

Edgar, Cornelius H 198-204 

Edwards, John 70-127 

Oliver P 168 

Silas 144 

David 127 

Henry 127-225 

Orlando B 152 

Lewis J 152 

Charles Dix 152 

Edmund B 152 

Elbert P 152 

Charles N 152 

Frederick 168 

Thomas 176 

Melvin 179 

Silas W 267 

Lawrence B 287 

Andrew L 291 



38S 



INDEX 



Eeling 115 

Eggkston, J. W 209 

Elevations 5 

Elizabethtown, N. J 78-188 

EUiston, John 152 

Joseph 153 

Hannah 160 

Joshua 153 

Emott, James 94 

Engle. Wm. C 219 

Erskine, Lord 131-133-134 

Fairfield Pond, see Ponds 

Fairman, Jane 66 

Farming 116ff 

Farrett, James 47-49-50 

Farrington, Edmund 44, 45 

John 44-48 

Thos 44 

Feversham 64-65-66 

Field, J. K 291 

Fields, J. H 292-302 

Fish, Rev. S. C 210 

Fisher's Island 126 

Fishing 33-115 

Fithian, Aaron 17 

Five Men 112 

Flint, Benoni 75-78-103 

John 103 

Floyd. Colonel 264 

Flying Point 64-66 

Fordham, Joseph 55-56-93 

Charles 103 

Nathan 164-288 

Andrew 180 

Peletiah 223 

Wm 199-292-302 

Ephraim 264 

John W 288 

Eli 291-305-308-309 

Fossils 8ff 

Foster, Christopher 45 

John 55-91-107-126 

Clifford 15 

Thos 71 

James H 72 

Josiah 73 

Ben 81 

Eng. Rec'd 65 

James 103-127-137 

David 127 

James R 153 

Obadiah 231 

Edwin 288 

Wm 302 

Edward 309 



Francis, Roger A 153-227ff-230 

Amzi 209-195-198-204 

Freemen 110 

French, Stephen B 291 

Wm 291-305 

Frissell, Rev. Mr 205 

Fruit stealing 108 

Gage, Gen 126 

Gallager, Jacob 288 

Gallagher, C. W 209 

Gardiner, Lion 49-82 

J. L 5-91-168-169 

Abraham 129-130 

Nathaniel 130 

Jeremiah 127 

Henry 162 

Augustus 168 

David 169 

Wm 173 

John 263 

Robt. E 291 

Gardiner's Island 49-126-253 

Gawley, Stephen 288 

Gelston, Samuel 94 

Richard 100 

Hugh 126-127-193 

Maltby 128-137-185 

David 130-131-137-221 

Wm 127-137 

John 137-192-222-194 

Thomas 137-193 

Geology 2-10 

Gildersleeve, Philip 127 

Henry 127 

Gilson, Richard 230 

Glacial formation 4-11 

Glover, A. G 266 

Chas 288 

D. B 291-302 

Thos. J 291 

Jas. E 291 

Erastus 310 

Godbee, James 288 

Goldfish Pond, see Ponds 

Goodall, Chas 153 

Gosmer, John 73-258 

Richard 258 

Gough, John 153 

Gould, Aleck 254 

Gouldsmith, Alice 65 

Goulthwaite, Margaret 65 

Gransden, Henry 69 

Alice 69 

Graves, G. A 209 

Gray, Thos. M 205 



INDEX 



389 



Green, Barney R 232-291-295-300 

Heni-y, 243-244-291-294-296-299-301- 
303-306 

James 277 

Hetty 279 

Chas. N 291-303 

John H 291-294-298-301 

Greenport 164 

Greenvill, John 70 

Gregory, Dennis 153 

Grey, Solomon 98-100 

Griffith, Capt 136 

Grifflng, Absalom G 291 

Guilford 136-144-145 

Hacker's Hole 17-91 

Haddam 136 

Haines or Haynes, Job 74 

Stephen C 101 

David 149-137-192-194 

James 103-185-218 221 

Samuel 103 

Theodore F 153-174 

Lemuel 176-193 

Jeremiah 178-185-199 

Clarissa J 178 

James L 181 

Stephen 193 

Daniel 222 

Daniel H 199 

Wm 252-288 

Wm. S 285 

Wm. C. .290-291-294-303-304-305-306 

Haley, Dennis 153 

Hall, W. T 209 

Hallock, L. W 181ff 

Halsey, Thomas, 44-45-55-76-141-81-127- 
252-263-264 

Isaac 56 

Wm. D 9-31-161-181-225-241 

Daniel 76-127-193-194-263 

Jeremiah 85-86-102-103-137-226 

Oliveir 86-153 

Ann 88 

Ruth 88 

Robert 100-252 

Timothy 126-137-175-192-222-194 

Silas 128-140 

Jesse 128-175 

Elias Henry, 128-141-137-193-222-194 

Theophilus 139-137 

Stephen, 141-143-137-164-192-221-204- 
301-302 

Abram 141-103-127-137 

^ Sylvanus 141-127-193 

Nathan P 143 



Elisha 145-149 

Alexander 288 

Hugh 146-164-199 

David 103-199 

David F 128 

Henry 137-153 

John 137 

Josiah 137 

Mathew 137-193 

Phebe 137 

Philip 137 

Phebe H 178 

Charles E 153 

Sydney E. 153 

E. Erastus 153 

A. Asbury 153 

Silas E 153 

Charles 153 

Wm. M 153 

Jerusha 157 

Gabriel 177-178 

Daniel S 179 

Misses, School 180 

Floyd 181 

James M 183 

Elihu 192 

Simeon 193 

Ethan 193 

Moses 193 

Wm 209-291 

Albert 222-302 

Enoch 199 

Richard 199 

Luther 199 

Jas. B 199 

Jacob 204 

Arabella 204 

Howard 226 

Erastus 252 

Maltby 252 

Benj. H 267 

Augustus E 276 

Edw. W 291-305-306 

Sam. B 291-301-302-310 

Schuyler B 291 

Philetus 292 

Edwin 305 

Wm. S 308 

Hand, John 69-136-127-258 

Shamgar 74-75-79 

Josiah 75-143-103-127-193 

Benj '^5 

Silas 141-143-193 

David 141-142-143-137-193-291 

Isaac 143 



390 



INDEX 



Sarah 143 

Lerviah 143 

Jonathan 127-137 

Daniel 127-137 

Joseph 127-137 

Gideon 137-193 

Edwin C 153 

Orlando 153-183 

Wm 230 

David H 291 

Haney, H. T 211 

Hardy, Sir T. M 145 

Harker, Wm 44-45-47-48 

Harlow, S. H 266 

Harris, George 75 

Leonard 103 

John 193 

Reuben 209 

Harrison, John 288-309 

Harwood, Capt 289 

Hatch, C. N 291 

Haugh, J. S 209 

Havens, Benj 164 

Wickham S 173 

J. S 174 

Monroe 277 

Hawley, Giles P 205 

Hay Ground Cove 18, 29 

Haynes, see Haines 
Hayne's Pond, see Ponds 

Hedges, Miss H. B 15-214 

Elisha 74-183-226 

Cassander W 78-183 

Daniel 79-128-137-193-221 

Wm 79 

Stephen 79-138 

David, 79-137-185-145-192-222-224- 
194-202-203 

Jonathan . 130-139-138-193-221 

Jared 145 

Nathan 127 

Job 127-291-305-309 

Timothy 127 

Hannah 137 

Jeremiah 138 

Lyman 153 

H. B. ...162-166-167-173-176-179-194 

S. O 167-174 

Edwin 181-182-199 

Elias 193 

John N 235 

Tristrum 258 

Hempstead 71-72 

Hempstead Convention 53 

Herman, Mike 241 



Herrick, James 103 

Samuel 181-182 

Mrs. Henry 237 

George 291 

Highways 60 

Hildreth, James . . .78-86-87-103-224-251 

Joshua 128-103-127-138-193-195 

John 128 

Rev. Incident 132 

Luther 127 

Isaac N 153 

N. & Co 161 

Mary G 167 

Levi 170 

E. J 174-248 

Samuel 183-234-292 

E. A 183 

David 193 

Peter 193-225 

Joseph 214 

W. Wallace 224 

Thos 258 

Albert 291-301-303 

Hillyer, Asa 193 

Hilton, Joyce 65 

Hoffman, F. B 211 

Hoges, Benek 65 

Hollis, Geo 209 

Homan, Phineas 127 

Gilbert 153 

Hoopete, Jason 38 

Hopkins, Stephen 207 

Constance 207 

Horton, W. T 291-294 

Saltor S 291 

Houses 

Hedges 15-216 

Sanford .58-91-218-220 

Ebenezer White 79 

Howell, Poxabogue 78-101-220 

Cooper 86-222 

Briggs 94-101-220 

Haines 101-217 

Gelston 131-220 

Thompson, E. J 132 

Corwith, Henry 167-168 

Atlantic House 167-169 

Corwith, S. R 168 

Hampton House 168-169-200 

Peck 181 

Engle 219 

Job Pierson 219 

Topping 219 

L. Page Topping 219 

Elisha O. Hedges 220 



INDEX 



391 



Sage 220 

A. M Cook 220 

Woolworth 220fI-194-202 

E. G. Sayre 222 

C. A. Ludlow 222 

Cook, Aug 222 

Halsey, Albert 222 

How, Daniel 44-45-47-49-258 

Howell, Edward, 44. 45, 55-66-137-77- 
101-127-138-220-223-258-263 

Eng. Rec'd 65 

John 53-55-77-153-258-262 

Richard 77-262 

Theophilus, 77-78-93-94-102-103-188- 
224-226-263 

Hervey 77 

Phillip 79-128-138-193 

Arthur 81-82-83-85-91-262 

Samuel 88-192-221-222-194 

Elisha '. 102-103-226-263 

Lemuel 102-103-226-263 

Nathaniel 126-214 

Jehiel 127 

Ryall 136-138 

Sylvanus 136 

Stephen 139-193 

James 144-153 

Levi 145 

Cilley 103 

Moses 127 

David 127-138-193 

Daniel, 138-192-221-222-291-292-293 

Ezekiel 138-192 

Elias 138 

Isaac 138 

Joshua 138 

Paul 138 

Recompence 138 

Walter ■. .138-193 

Orlando J 153 

Samuel H 153 

Augustus 162 

Geo. R 181-182 

Lucy C 183 

Price 193 

Abraham 193-221-195 

Elihu 193 

W. M 209 

Charles 199-252-291-307 

Thomas 199-263 

Obadiah 232 

Benj 263 

Jonathan 263 

Hezekiah 264 

Israel 264 



John E 266 

Peter H 291-294-301 

George 291 

C. N 291 

Lewis 302-303-304-305 

Hudson, John 128-127 

Hull, John W 170-291 

Humphrey, Arthur 153 

Hunker, Flora 163 

Hunt, Benj 128 

Huntington 89-162-201 

Huntting, Minister 121 

Nathaniel 137 

Henry 153 

Cyrus 165 

James R. . . 173-237-239-240-267-268ff 

Martha 237 

Henry E 267ff 

Wm. 1 291 

Hurlbert, Col. John, 139-167-192-221- 
222-194 

Prudence 221 

Huse, Humphrey 103 

Abner 103 

Uriah 103 

Jedediah 103 

John 103 

Indians, 15, 20ff, 47-50-67-84-94-106- 
108-111-114-118-143-247-254-256- 257- 
262ff-306-307-308 

Inns 120-167-170-92-100 

Irwin, William 238 

Isham, Gen. Jirah 151 

Edwin B 291-301-305-306-309 

Islip 264 

Jacques, Richard 258 

Jagger, John 11-55 

Mathew 127-138 

Jeremiah 230 

Chris 241 

Albert 285-291-292ff 

Austin 291 

Louis 291 

Stephen 302-305 

Jehu Pond, see Ponds 

Jennings, John 55 

Albert G. 183 

Jessup, Isaac 138-193 

Silas 138 

Franklin C 291 

Jewett, Wm 154 

Jobs Creek (Doxseys) 18, 29 

Johnes, Edward 67 

Samuel 101-264 

Mr 258 



392 



INDEX 



Johnson, Mary 208 

Jonts, Paul 126 

Wm. L 145 

Wm 198-239 

Juan Fernandez 288-297 

Jurasko, J. J 212 

Juries 112 

Kahle, M 194-195 

Kaapert, Geo 211 

Kellas, John 291 

Kellis Pond, see Ponds 

Kennedy, Patrick 154 

Kettles 6-7 

Kidd, Capt 253 

Kiernan, Geo 233 

Killingworth, Conn 72-140 

King, Alexander 127-138 

Samuel 127-138 

Peter 138 

Kyrtland, Philip 44-45-48 

Nath 48 

Lamb, Jos. P 200 

Lathabury, A. A 209 

Lawrence, Rev. Mr 181-182 

Wm 209 

Law suits 107-108-112-166 

Learning, Chris 12-75 

Lee, Anne 65 

Leek, Erastus 288 

Abraham 288 

Leonard, Thos. J 211-212 

Lester, Richard 75-76-79-80 

Rev. Wm. H 78-80 

Lewis, Austen 292-302 

L'Hommedieu, Grover 127-138 

Library 170flf 

Lily Pond, see Ponds 

Little Long Pond, see Ponds 

Little Pond, see Ponds 

Long Beach 29 

Longevity 178 

Long Id. Journal of Philosophy ....162 

Long Meadow, Mass 203 

Long Pond, see Ponds 

Long Springs 216 

Loome, see Lum 

Loper, Benj 154 

Henry 154-288-305 

Jason 178 

Jared 178 

Lots, £150 57ff 

Ludlam, see also Ludlow 

Henry 81 

Anthony . . .81-85-88-103-138-222-262 
Patience 88 



Stephen 138-193 

Ludlow, see also Ludlam 

Jeremiah 183-201-278ff 

Chas. T 222 

Chas. A 222 

E. Jones 230 

Samuel 252 

George 252-277 

Isaac 266 

Gurdon P 276 

Lafayette 291-302 

Augustus 291 

Lum, Samuel 87-103 

Mathew 103 

Lupton, David 127 

John 103 

Christopher 103 

Benj 103 

Lying 108 

Lynn, Mass 43, 44, 45-49 

Magistrates 52-110 

Magee, Raymond 211 

Mapesden, Anna 65 

Marron, Thomas 154 

Marshall, Albert 174 

Thos. F 183 

John 292-308-309 

Marsh Gibbon 45 

Masen, John 103 

Mattenwake 32 

Maxwell, Henry W 60 

McCaslin, Francis 237 

McCleve, 291 

McDonald, Michael 154 

McDonnell, Chas. E 211 

McElrath, Thos. L 291-296 

McGuirck, Frank 154 

John 154 

McGuire, W. W 209 

Mecox 14, 40-64ff-80ff 

Mecox Bay 16, 17, 18, 19, 29-61 

Mecox Gate 85 

Meigs' Expedition 144 

Mervin, Robt 117 

Merwin, Samuel 209 

Middletown, Ct 136-164 

Miles, Jonathan 103 

Mill Creek 18 

Mill Hill 230 

Mill Pond Head 61-89 

Miller, Geo 32 

Nathaniel 154 

Edmund 210 

David M 204 

Hedges 230 



INDEX 



393 



Daniel 263 

John 288 

Mills 

Water 66-223 

Sagg stream 78-224 

Wick's Wind 95-225 

of 1706 102-226 

Horse 223 

Calves' Creek 223 

Paul's Lane 225 

Dick's 225 

Wind saw 225 

Topping's 226 

Atlantic Steam 227ff 

Hay Ground 229 

Berwind 230 

Wainscott 231 

Mills, Richard 120 

Isaac 103 

John R 291 

Minute Guns 148 

Minute Men 127-128-145 

Mitchell fam, Eng. Rec 65 

John 87-88-103-223-263 

Sarah 88 

Mehitabel 138 

Stephen 193 

Money Ship 241 

Montauk 10, 13, 28, 37, 75-126 

Moore, see More 

Moraines 5-7 

More, Joseph 103, 138-263 

Benj 103 

Henry 128-138-193 

Daniel 138 

John 258 

Morehouse, John 78-103 

Andrew 138 

Sarah 138 

Morris, Geo. C 154 

Morristown, N. J 96 

Mud Creek 18 

Mulford, John 82-258 

David 128-130 

Wm 258 

Samuel 263 

Mullen, Jas 154 

Music, church 157 

Myer's Pond, see Ponds 

Needham, Edmund 44 

Newell, Thos 44-45 

New England Confederacy 51 

New Haven 49-51-52 

New London 164 

Newman, Arthur 198-205 



Newspapers 161-162 

Newton, Benoni 86-87-88-103 

Benjamin 86-103 

Ebenezer 86 

Isaac 88-103 

Johannah 88 

Joannah 88 

Jonathan 103 

John 103 

Nichols, R. J 289 

Nicholson, Wm 138 

Nickerson, James 185 

L. D 209 

Nicoll, Col 53 

Nicolls, Samuel 164 

Norcock, Amy 65 

Norris, Robert 77-103 

Peter 77-103 

Nathan 77-192 

Thomas 77 

Oliver 103 

Silas 138 

Stephen 226 

North Sea, ..51-64-65-80-84-101-164-260 

North Side 70 

North West 101 

Nuton, see Newton 

Oakley, Alfred 170 

Oath of Allegiance 129-130 

Odell, Richard 44-258 

Ogden, John 65-71-260-261 

O'Hara, F. J 211 

"Old Ground" 67 

Old Town 51-64 

Oliver Creek 18 

Osborn, Glcriana 167 

Oliver 230 

Otter Pond, see Ponds 
Outlet, see Seapoose 

Overton, Richard 154 

Thos 288 

Pain, Silas 127 

Paine, Elisha 206ff 

Thomas 207 

Elizabeth 208 

J. R 208 

L. C 208 

Paine's Creek 18 

Palmer, Benj 75-78 

Parish of Bridgehampton ..186-189-190 

Parker, John 94-114-103-303 

Rodney 145-150-225 

Jeremiah 138-193 

James 291-294-310 

W. W 291-294-301-303 



394 



INDEX 



D. F 301 

W. M 304-305-306-308 

Parrish, S. L 241 

Parsonage land, 188-192-194-195-198-199 

Parshall, James 114 

Parsons, Wm. B 237 

Patents — Sterling 47-49-50 

Conn., 1644 53 

Andros 55 

Dongan 55-56-59 

Paumanack 21 

Payne, Jeremiah 154 

Thomas 154 

Silas 163 

Chas. W 266 

Wm 290-303-306 

Peconie 49-51 

Pelletreau, Francis 73 

Penny, Wm 292 

Petabogue 253 

Peter's Garden 177 

Peterson, Lottie M 183 

Peter's Pond, see Ponds 

Peter the Negro 82-83 

Petty, Edward 79-103 

Elias 95 

Elnathan 103 

John 305 

Wm 308 

Pharaoh, King 23, 37 

Pierson, Henry, 55-56-75-76-78-79-103- 
188-189-258-193-219-224-263 

David Emmett 69 

Abraham, 52-109-103-127-138-193-219- 
258 

Job 75-77-127-193-219 

Theodore 76-103-263 

David, 76-126-128-103-127-138-154- 
166-192-221-222-194 

Lemuel 76-132-137-138-193 

George 252 

Jesse 76 

Henry R 76 

Samuel 77-138-193 

John 79-103-138-193-219-222 

Esther 79 

Susannah 79 

Mary 79 

Elias 127-138 

Theophilus 128-103-138-193 

Zebulon 137-138-193 

Josiah 103 

Isaac 127 

Zachariah 127-138 

Jedediah 138-193 



Mathew 138-192-193 

Silvanus 138-192 

Stephen 138-192-219 

Jesse 166 

Timothy 192-222-194-255 

Caleb 193-204 

Charles 193 

Williams 193 

William 193-204-252 

Isaac M 199 

Alfred 199 

Chas. A 238-275 

Jas. H 241 

Wm. H 266 

Elihu 275-292 

Pirate's Belt 254 

Plymouth 42-51 

Polly, Wm 154 

Ponds 16ff 

Scuttle Hole or Haynes, 6, 7, 16, 17 

Water Mill 7, 16 

Poxabogue 7, 17, 40 

Jehu or Short 7, 17 

Long (1) 7, 17 

Long Pond (2) 17 

Kellis 7, 16, 40 

Sagg 16, 18, 31 

Fairfield 17 

Little or Peter's 17, 29 

Black 17 

Slate 17 

Deer's Hole 17 

Crooked 17 

Lily 17 

Little Long 17 

Otter 17 

Austen's, Deep or Goldfish ...7, 17 

Camp's 17 

Myers 18 

Channel 18 

Jule 18 

Sayre 18 

Phillips' 18 

Wickapogue 18 

Old Tovvn 18 

Lake Agawam 18, 39 

Round 17 

Post, Henry H 72 

Elias 138 

Nathan 138-166-193-222-291 

Lodowick 166-193-219-222 

Richard 55-258 

Wm. H. 291-296-302-304-30E-307-308- 

309 
Wm 291 



INDEX 



305 



Geo. W 291 

Post Office 164 

Pounder, Edward 154 

Poxabogue Pond, see Ponds 

Poxabogue 78-79-101-143 

Price, T. L 209 

Prime, Ebenezer 201 

Prison 108 

Proprietors 57ff 

Purgatory Hollow 134 

Ramsdale, Mary 73 

Raynor, Thurston- 12, 19-82 

Joseph 55-2C2 

Josiah 127-216 

John .216 

Sylvanus 237 

Isaac 263 

Redfield, Chas 154 

Reeves, Bymael 288 

Jetur F 291 

Peter 292-302 

Refugees 135flE 

Religious Female Cent Soc 203 

Resco, see Ruscoe 

Revolution 124ff 

Rhodes, Henry .291-301-303-304-305-306 

Ripley, Thos. P 291-292 

Riverhead 124 

Roads 217 

Brickiln 5, 9 

Scuttle Hole 5, 89 

Old Beach 11 

Mecox 11, 14, 67 

Ocean 14 

Blank Lot Lane 61 

Sagg Main St 64 

Fairfield Lane 67-75 

Bridge Lane 67 

Norris Lane 77 

Huntington Path 89 

Main 89 

East Hampton Path 89 

King's Road 89 

Marchant's Path 101 

Horse Mill Lane 223 

Robbin's Island 49 

Robinson, Edward 279 

Roesel, Paul 211 

Rogers, Hiram S 76-98-219 

Charles 78-173 

Jonah 87-103 

Zephaniah 126 

Wm 128-138-193-221-222-194 

Nathaniel 128-138 

Topping 127 



Jeremiah 138 

John 138-193 

Jonathan 138-193 

Joshua 138 

Sarah 138 

Zachariah 138 

Bcnj. F 154 

Nathan •. 168-169-199-200-269 

John T 169-193 

Edwin P 174 

James A 178-276ff 

Charles S 220-225 

Obadiah 223 

W. H. H 195-199 

Benj 229 

Nathan T 229 

Jones 290 

Albert 291-300-303-304 

James 291-294-301-303-306 

Horatio 291 

N. B 291 

George 292 

Rose fam., Eng. Rec 65 

Abram, 126-14.5-146-127-138-193-221- 
229 

Sam'l H 141-167-204 

Abraham T., 141-146-167-168-226-230 

Rufus 145-148 

Edwin 151-154-181 

Martin 103 

Israel 103 

Wm 103 

David 103-198 

Frederick 154 

James 103 

Samuel 168-193 

Henry M 178 

Emma 180 

Stephen 185-192-204-208 

Maltbie G 230 

Robert 258 

Ross, Mr 292-301-302 

Round Pond, see Ponds 

Roxbury, N. J 96 

Royce, Capt 264-291 

Rugg, Geo. Benj 154 

Rusco, Ammiruhama 78-104 

Nathan 79 

Nathaniel 104 

Rushmore, S 209 

Russel, Wm 87-132-225 

David 127 

Jonathan 127-138 

Ryder, Wm 154 

Rylands, Wm 154 



396 



INDEX 



Sabbath 109-119 

Sabina 283-287-290ff 

Sachem's Head 144 

Sachem's Hole 40 

Sage, Mrs. Russel 220 

Sagg or Sagaponack, 12, 14, 15, 32, 39, 
64flf 

Sagg Mill Case 22611 

Sagp Swamp 114 

Sag Harbor, 23, 29, 30-70-101-102-128- 
130-131-136-144ff-162- 163- 164- 165- 
170-178-186-210-223-200-230-232- 251- 
264ff-282flf-286 

Sam's Creek 17 

Sandford, Ezekiel, 58-88-91-114-104-138- 
218-220 

Nathan 90-220 

John 128-138 

Thomas 104-220-263 

Daniel 127 

David Howell 127 

Benjamin 127-138-185-193 

Abraham 127-193 

Lewis 127-193-204 

David 138 

Henry M 154 

Sylvanus 177 

H. H 177 

Maltby 177 

Elias 177-193 

Edward 177 

Jas. L 183-292 

Job 192 

Josiah 193 

Jeremiah 193 

Hiram 209-226 

Robert 220 

J. A 230-292 

A. H 291-298 

Louis 291 

Sanfords, J. A. & Sons Well 7 

Saybrook 131-136-137-139-253 

Sayre, Job 44-45-47-48-56-258 

Rufus 60 

Francis 55-56 

Thomas 45-119-258 

Daniel 87-93-104-263-264 

Nathan 94 

Mathew 126-154 

David 128-139-138-193 

Benj 138-193 

Ephraim 138 

James 138-154-193 

E. G 219-222 

Uriah 222 



John C 231-239 

Stephen 237-241 

John 263 

Ichabod 263 

Isaac 291 

George 292-300 

J 292 

Spencer 301-303-304-305-306-309 

Schaff , Rev. Mr 205 

Schellinger, see Skellinger 

David 88 

Geo. W 288 

Schools 120-174flf 

Schout's Bay 48-49 

Scott, Mrs 32 

Scuttle Hole 89-90 

Scuttle Hole Road, see Roads 
Scuttle Hole Pond, see Ponds 

Seab ary, Samuel A 162 

Egbert 162 

Lafayette W 179-230-252 

Sheffield 181 

Seapoose 18ff 

Seawanhacky 32 

Seely, Chas 291 

Selkirk, Alex 288 

Seponac 27-216 

Servants 114 

Setooket 264 

Settlement, Southampton 42ff 

Shackelton, T. J 209 

Shaughenessy, Michael 179 

Sheep 158 

Shaw, Geo 309, 291 

Shelter Island 28-49-143-164 

Shenandoah 265-278ff 

Sherlock, Hanno J 210 

John 210 

A. J 218 

Sherman, Anthony 127 

Silas 288 

Shinnecock Hills ...6. 12, 13, 29, 30, 35 
Short Pond, see Ponds 

Sing, C. B 209 

Skellinger, Dan'l 127 

Slate, Capt 283 

Shamgar H 284-288 

Slate Pond, see Ponds 

Slaves 94-114 

Sleight, Wm. R 283 

H. D 285 

Sloane, John 245 

Smith, Richard 15-78-258-264 

Josiah 126-128 

John 115 



INDEX 



397 



David 127-138 

Geo 288 

Daniel 288-305 

Smith Corner 78-92 

Snode, Ann 65 

Snow, Nathaniel 207 

Mary 207 

Constance 207 

Social distinctions 113 

Soldiers 71-102-108-118flf 

Southampton & Calif. Min. & Trading 

Co 290 

South Harbor 66-258 

Southold 22-54-55-114-164 

Squires, Ellis A 145-150 

Albert E 150 

Henry 154 

Albert 178 

Stage lines 163 

Stanborough, Josias, 44, 45-67flf, 70 to 
75-81-122-127-258 

Frances 69 

Alice 69 

Peregrine 70-75-79-81-104-185 

Sarah 70 

Mary 70 

Ruth 70 

Isaac 70 

Youngs, Capt 70 

Lewellen 70 

James 104 

John 104 

Lewis 138-193 

Stephen 138-193 

Stanley, Wm. H 154 

Stanton, Thomas 22 

Stanstead 69 

Steenwyck, Mr 54-55 

Stephens, E. F 86-235 

Thos 93-263 

Harry G 183 

Sterling, Earl of 47-49-50 

Sterry, Robert 240 

Stocks 108 

Stonington 136 

Strangers Ill 

Stratten, Daniel • 192 

Richard 258 

Strickland. Wm. P 205 

Strickling, Jonathan 104 

Strong, Jas. M 154 

Chas 175 

Geo 202 

Chas. W 238 

Wm. H 288 



Stuart, Wm 143 

Suffolk County Com. of Corres 124 

Suffolk County Gazette 162 

Suffolk County Recorder 162 

Sun mark 157 

Swan, J. A 209 

Swan Creek '. . . . 18 

Sweeney, Doyle 291-309 

Sweezy, Abigail 179 

Tabor, A. J 290-291 

Taf t, Mary M 178 

Talkhouse, Stephen 23, 37 

Talmadge, Daniel 192 

Stephen 193 

Benj 202 

Thos 258 

Robt 258 

Tan yards 75 

Tarbell, Wm 104 

David 127 

Tavern, see Inns. Also Bull Head 
Tavern 

Terry, Thos 44 

James 127-193 

James B 154 

George 288 

Thompson, Elmer J 132 

Thomson, Zebulon 138 

Geo. L 209 

Thos 258 

Three Mile Harbor 29 

Tienhoven, Cornells von 48 

Tinker, W. W 291 

Toll gate 232ff 

Tooker, W. W 27ff 

Topping, Thomas, 14, 19-53-70fr-78-84- 
86-136-138-185 

G. Clarence 77 

Elnathan 70-73-74-79-104-200 

James 71-74-238 

John 55-69-73-79-81-84 

Thos. C 9 

Zerobabel 74 

Josiah 74-104-185-263 

Stephen 74-104-193-254-263 

Paul 74-138-226 

Hezekiah 74-104-263 

Sidney B 77 

Mary 79 

Edward 98-127-138-193 

Abram 98-167-193-204 

David 98-145-138-192-193 

Mulford 98 

Edward 126-128-133 

Joseph 140-138-193 



398 



INDEX 



Silvanus 104-193 

Mathew 127-138-193 

Jeremiah 127 

Henry 127-138-176-193 

Zephaniah 127-193 

Charles 138-180-193 

Daniel 138 

Elisha 138 

Phebe 138 

Rebecca 138 

Ezekiel 138 

Wm. Owen 154 

M. Howell 154 

Albert 154-239 

Wm -.168-292-305 

Sophronia 180 

Alanson 181 

Ethan 192-229 

Silas 193 

L. Page 219 

Jas. H 199 

C. H 226-230 

Jesse 229 

George 229-230 

A. E 230 

Richard 252-266 

A. W. 285 

Town Clerk 111-112 

Town Meeting llOff 

Trippet, John 209 

Trustees of the Freeholders, &c. 56-60- 

227 
Trustees of the Undivided Common 

Land 60 

Tryon, Gov 129 

TuUy, Walter 154 

Turf & twig 23 

Turkey Hill 145 

Turkish captives 107 

Tuthill, Silas 92 

Undertakers 44ff 

United Colonies of New England ...51 

Unreverent carriage 109-110 

Vail, Christopher 127-138 

David P 283 

Vanderlip, Delia 178 

Van Houten. Prof 170 

Van Scoy, H. L 285-288 

Isaac S 291-301 

Van Votchen, John 291 

Wade, Dr. Nathaniel 113-104 

Simon 104 

O. R 287-289 

Benj 287-289 

Jared 289 



Wading Place 11-92-186-187 

Wainscott 29, 40, 78-231-238-259 

Wake, Wm 209 

Wallace. Thos 288-310 

Walton, Henry 44 

Wampum 31ff 

War of 1812 145ff 

Ward, Mrs 70 

Warden, Capt 280 

Warner, Andrew E 181-182 

Warren, Timothy 155 

Thos. E 291-300-301 

Washburn, Wm 71 

Washington Corner, N. J 96 

Water Mill 66 

Water Mill Pond, see Ponds 

Waters, town 57-59-61-62 

Webb, Job 288 

Henry 291 

Weft 259 

Welbe, George 44, 45-47-48 

Wesbury, Manor of 45 

West Alexandria, Va 80 

Westhampton 92 

Wethersfield, Ct 136 

Whales, fins & tails 25-261-257 

Whaling 66-255ff 

Whaling fleet 283flf 

Wheeler, Thomas 69 

Whipping post 108 

White. John. 19-144-138-193-224-258-307 

John E 76 

Ebenezer. 78-104-185-188-192-222-194- 
200-201 

Silas 95-138-185-193-199 

Henry 96, 141-138-199 

Elnathan 104-185 

Samuel 127-221 

Ephraim 127-237 

Stephen 127 

Benj 138 

David 138 

& Hedges 161 

Albert 181 

Hannah 200 

Peregrine 200 

Wm 200-291-302-304-305-307 

Sylvanus 201 

Nathan 236 

Mrs. Hubert 237 

Ed. H 291-296-302 

S 291 

Geo 309 

Whitfield, Geo 202 

Whiting, Rev. Mr 187-188-191 



INDEX 



399 



Wick, John 93ff-114-224-225 

Temperance ,94 

Lemuel 95-96-97 

Job 96 

Zebulon 96 

Wm 96 

Henry 96-195 

Silvanus 127 

Edward 138 

Wick Hall 96 

Wickham, Joseph 104 

Wickapogue 40-77-250 

Wilkins, A. M 209 

Williams, Nathaniel 201 

Sarah 201 

Abigail 252 

Daniel 252 

Willman, Isaack 19-187 

Wilmot f am., Eng. Rec 65 

Sarah 79 

Alexander 79-94-104 

Walter 95 

Wilson, W. C 209 

Wind Mill Hill 95 

Winthrop, Gov 47, 53 

Wolves 117 

Women's Missionary Soc 203 

Wood fam., Eng. Rec 66 

Jonas 78-188 

Lydia 78-188 

Jacob 82-86-104 

Geo 154-258 

Stephen 178 

Daniel 276 

Theo. H 291 

Woodruff, John 73 

David 127-138-192 

Benj 138-193 

Daniel 138-193 

Silas 138-178-193-209 

Jesse 178-193-204 

Elias 193 

Woods 13ff, 85 



Woodward, John 291 

Woolley, Robt 91 

Woolworth, Aaron, 171-184-185-190-191- 
193-221-194-199-202-203 

Woolworth Agreement 184-191ff 

Worth, J. 209 

T. 237-239 

Worthington, A. E 181 

Edwin 155 

Wrecks 234ff 

Sylph 236 

Helen 240 

Money Ship 241 

Susan 246 

Louis Phillippe 246 

Robert 246 

Solicitor 246 

Hattie C. White 247 

Emily B. Souder 247 

Mesopotami 247 

William Creevy 247 

Circassian 247ff 

Heath Park 247 

Alexandre Le Valley 249 

Annie C. Cook 249 

Loretta Fish 249 

Lizzie 250 

Benj. B. Church 250 

Panther 250 

Lykens Valley 250 

John K. Souther 250 

Otto 250 

Clan Galbraith 250 

John Milton 254 

Wright, Nathan H 155 

Levi D 199 

Wyandance 20ff, 261 

Yale College 95-96 

York, Duke of 53-54 

Yorkshire, East Riding of 53 

Youngs, John F 155-173 

Tabitha 178 






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